To make life easier for me I've also devised a rating system. Every book gets a rating of 1-5 and here's what it means. (adapted from it's original form from the beginning of last year.)
5 - I loved it, I'm going to own it, I am in fact going to buy multiple copies and promote this book by handing them out for free at church socials and company picnics.
4 - I liked it. I definitely want to have a copy in my library and recommend it to most people.
3 - I liked it well enough, if I see a cheap used copy of it I'll snag it for my collection. I would recommend this book to some people or for specific reasons.
2 - I didn't hate, didn't like it either. I wouldn't generally recommend it to most people.
1 - I hated it or severely disliked it. There has to be a serious problem with the writing or the subject matter for a book to get this rating. In the last 2 years I've only run across 2 or 3 of these. The likelyhood that one of these will appear on the blog is pretty low since...why waste time on something so bad?
Friday, December 15, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
2006: How it went and how it didn't went and the 2007 challenge!!
Well, I won't call 2006 a flop because I got a lot of good reading done but I most definitely got derailed and didn't even come close to any of my goals. To avoid getting down about it I'm going to go ahead and close out this year a little early and get a jump on 2007.
So how'd I do?
Well I read about 65 books (not counting the ones that are going to end up under 2007 *shush don't tell anyone*). I discovered many new authors that I enjoyed even if I didn't love every one of them. I think I will continue to pursue some of those lists even if I don't do it in such a rigid way.
What went wrong?
Life intruded. It does that. A lot. *rolls eyes* A lot of good things happened for me and a lot of really tough things happened. Taking care of them just came out above reading. While I really enjoy the lists pursuing them the way I did was very rigid and not nearly as pleasurable as I'd thought it would be. I think planning about a month at a time is really all I should be doing.
So on to newer and brighter things...
2007 Challenge!
Pray for me. I'm trying for 200 again. I'm going to try going back to the roots by posting reading lists on a monthly basis and recaps at the end of each month. I'm keeping the rating system I devised for last year (5's really really good...1 is like a screwdriver to the eye)
I might pursue published reading lists but I'm only going to post them once I finish them with a review of the list.
As always I'll start over at book 1 at the beginning of the year for bookkeeping purposes. 20% of them (or 1 out of 5) needs to be non-fiction. I can't reread books from last year and have them count but I can from the year before that (2005) as long as I write a new review with new insights. Children's and Young Adult books are fair game as are manga and graphic novels.
So how'd I do?
Well I read about 65 books (not counting the ones that are going to end up under 2007 *shush don't tell anyone*). I discovered many new authors that I enjoyed even if I didn't love every one of them. I think I will continue to pursue some of those lists even if I don't do it in such a rigid way.
What went wrong?
Life intruded. It does that. A lot. *rolls eyes* A lot of good things happened for me and a lot of really tough things happened. Taking care of them just came out above reading. While I really enjoy the lists pursuing them the way I did was very rigid and not nearly as pleasurable as I'd thought it would be. I think planning about a month at a time is really all I should be doing.
So on to newer and brighter things...
2007 Challenge!
Pray for me. I'm trying for 200 again. I'm going to try going back to the roots by posting reading lists on a monthly basis and recaps at the end of each month. I'm keeping the rating system I devised for last year (5's really really good...1 is like a screwdriver to the eye)
I might pursue published reading lists but I'm only going to post them once I finish them with a review of the list.
As always I'll start over at book 1 at the beginning of the year for bookkeeping purposes. 20% of them (or 1 out of 5) needs to be non-fiction. I can't reread books from last year and have them count but I can from the year before that (2005) as long as I write a new review with new insights. Children's and Young Adult books are fair game as are manga and graphic novels.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
The List of Lists - an Index for 2006
The purpose of this post is to create an index of the lists that I've tackled over the year and provide easier navigation. Click on a list title to take you to see the master post for a list. From there you can view the individual book reviews by clicking on their titles or look at the list review by clicking on the appropriate link at the bottom of the post. Click here to see an explination of this year's challange and the new rating system.
1. Connie Willis: Too Good To Miss -- (review)
2. Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
4. Mothers and Daughters
5. Friend's List: Ryan L.
6. Friend's List: David L.
7. Dewey Deconstructed
1. Connie Willis: Too Good To Miss -- (review)
2. Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
a: Science Fiction3. Academia: The Joke
b: Fantasy
c: Horror
4. Mothers and Daughters
5. Friend's List: Ryan L.
6. Friend's List: David L.
7. Dewey Deconstructed
Saturday, October 14, 2006
64. A Mother and Two Daughters
by Gail Godwin (544 pgs)
Rating: 3
Nell is the mother, Cate and Lydia are the daughters. When husband and father, Leonard Strickland, dies suddenly the three women are thrown back together and forced to change. Lydia, who is always correct but nevertheless divorcing her husband Max, Cate the hippie/activist that never slows down, and Nell the mother who's never lived for just herself.
Mom and I read A Mother and Two Daughters back in August or so. (Sorry the post is so late.) Mom observed, and I agree with her, that it seems like nothing much happens. This observation is true in a way and false in others. Many things happen in this novel. Many shocking, wonderful, horrible, elating things. What doesn't happen, is all this things being pulled into a single story. The narrative is very 'day in the life of' and I don't think that the author did this by mistake. I don't much enjoy it though. The writing, itself, is masterful and there were many points in the book that I enjoyed.
recommended to people who like slice of life narratives.
Rating: 3
Nell is the mother, Cate and Lydia are the daughters. When husband and father, Leonard Strickland, dies suddenly the three women are thrown back together and forced to change. Lydia, who is always correct but nevertheless divorcing her husband Max, Cate the hippie/activist that never slows down, and Nell the mother who's never lived for just herself.
Mom and I read A Mother and Two Daughters back in August or so. (Sorry the post is so late.) Mom observed, and I agree with her, that it seems like nothing much happens. This observation is true in a way and false in others. Many things happen in this novel. Many shocking, wonderful, horrible, elating things. What doesn't happen, is all this things being pulled into a single story. The narrative is very 'day in the life of' and I don't think that the author did this by mistake. I don't much enjoy it though. The writing, itself, is masterful and there were many points in the book that I enjoyed.
recommended to people who like slice of life narratives.
Friday, October 13, 2006
63. Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold (352 pgs)
Rating: 4
Susie is dead. She dies horribly and, after she dies, she watches her family come to terms with her death. She sees her family struggle not to fall apart and she follows the affect she had on two friends from school as they grow and become adults. Susie is dead.
The Lovely Bones is a novel that is very interesting for the way that it is told. The perspective of a child's ghost is a bit strange and intriguing. I do have to agree with some of my friends that the voice is somewhat more mature than expected but I find this did not disturb me. The characters are interesting and the family is believable. I'm glad that I read this but I doubt that I will ever read it again.
Generally recommended for those who enjoy reading fiction. Not recommended for young audiences as the first chapter is pretty hard to take.
Rating: 4
Susie is dead. She dies horribly and, after she dies, she watches her family come to terms with her death. She sees her family struggle not to fall apart and she follows the affect she had on two friends from school as they grow and become adults. Susie is dead.
The Lovely Bones is a novel that is very interesting for the way that it is told. The perspective of a child's ghost is a bit strange and intriguing. I do have to agree with some of my friends that the voice is somewhat more mature than expected but I find this did not disturb me. The characters are interesting and the family is believable. I'm glad that I read this but I doubt that I will ever read it again.
Generally recommended for those who enjoy reading fiction. Not recommended for young audiences as the first chapter is pretty hard to take.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
62. Dune
By Frank Herbert (544 pgs)
Rating: 5
Paul Atreides, son of Jessica and the Duke Leto, has a mysterious and profound destiny. When his family is displaced from his native world of Caladan to the hell planet Arrakis, Paul is 15. Already he has been taught in the arts of sword fighting, mentats, ruling, and the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. It’s this last which is odd.
This is perhaps my fourth or fifth reading of Dune. Obviously, I like it but I admit that the first time I read it, I was none too impressed. Dune is one of those books that almost requires rereading. It is dense, full of philosophy, and packed with foreshadowing and devious plot-development. While it is perhaps not the best book in the English cannon, it is one of the few books I enjoy rereading.
PS don’t bother with they movies…they are all very visually stunning crap in comparison.
Recommended to everyone who reads science fiction.
Rating: 5
Paul Atreides, son of Jessica and the Duke Leto, has a mysterious and profound destiny. When his family is displaced from his native world of Caladan to the hell planet Arrakis, Paul is 15. Already he has been taught in the arts of sword fighting, mentats, ruling, and the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. It’s this last which is odd.
This is perhaps my fourth or fifth reading of Dune. Obviously, I like it but I admit that the first time I read it, I was none too impressed. Dune is one of those books that almost requires rereading. It is dense, full of philosophy, and packed with foreshadowing and devious plot-development. While it is perhaps not the best book in the English cannon, it is one of the few books I enjoy rereading.
PS don’t bother with they movies…they are all very visually stunning crap in comparison.
Recommended to everyone who reads science fiction.
Monday, September 25, 2006
61. The Hour of the Gate
By Alan Dean Foster (304 pgs)
Rating: 3
In this sequel to Spell Singer, Jon Tom finds himself it a continuing quest to defeat the plated folk and save the warmlands with an ultimate goal of getting back to his own world. Jon Tom and his friends travel through strange places to find allies in people steeped in myth.
Not as engaging as the first book, The Hour of the Gate was still an enjoyable read. The plot was not as strong and it seems Foster sacrificed it for character development. Many of the characters went through a series of startling revelations but many of them seemed somewhat forced and/or predictable.
While I enjoyed this book I wouldn’t recommend it on it’s own. As a member of a series, it is enjoyable and worth reading.
Rating: 3
In this sequel to Spell Singer, Jon Tom finds himself it a continuing quest to defeat the plated folk and save the warmlands with an ultimate goal of getting back to his own world. Jon Tom and his friends travel through strange places to find allies in people steeped in myth.
Not as engaging as the first book, The Hour of the Gate was still an enjoyable read. The plot was not as strong and it seems Foster sacrificed it for character development. Many of the characters went through a series of startling revelations but many of them seemed somewhat forced and/or predictable.
While I enjoyed this book I wouldn’t recommend it on it’s own. As a member of a series, it is enjoyable and worth reading.
Friday, September 22, 2006
60. Japanese By Spring
by Ishmael Reed (240 pgs)
Rating: 4
Professor Puttbutt is the son of a prominent military family and non-tenured faculty at the Jack London college in California. He is an African American who rants against affirmative action. He is a coward and a radical alternately with one hell of a mean streak.
I am honestly not sure what to make of Japanese By Spring. It was relatively easy to read but the commentary on ethnicity, PCness, and academia is probably going to take a while to sink in. There was a certain preachy feel to the epilogue and I find it very strange that author showed up as a character several times throughout the novel. I suspect that Reed used forms of African and African American story telling that I am just not familiar with. I did tend to identify with the sort of overarching sense of frustration that accompanies discussion of ethnicity throughout the narrative. It’s difficult to glean Reed’s position on many of the topic but I’m leaning to the conclusion that Reed doesn’t have a position on them. It’s possible that the novel is a farce only intended to expose the ridiculousness of the entire current discourse.
As I said. I don’t know. I have no particular insight.
I tentatively recommend the book in a general sense because recommending it to specific people would indicate I understood it more than I really did. But I do recommend it because it is making me think about these topics and I believe that’s a valuable thing.
Rating: 4
Professor Puttbutt is the son of a prominent military family and non-tenured faculty at the Jack London college in California. He is an African American who rants against affirmative action. He is a coward and a radical alternately with one hell of a mean streak.
I am honestly not sure what to make of Japanese By Spring. It was relatively easy to read but the commentary on ethnicity, PCness, and academia is probably going to take a while to sink in. There was a certain preachy feel to the epilogue and I find it very strange that author showed up as a character several times throughout the novel. I suspect that Reed used forms of African and African American story telling that I am just not familiar with. I did tend to identify with the sort of overarching sense of frustration that accompanies discussion of ethnicity throughout the narrative. It’s difficult to glean Reed’s position on many of the topic but I’m leaning to the conclusion that Reed doesn’t have a position on them. It’s possible that the novel is a farce only intended to expose the ridiculousness of the entire current discourse.
As I said. I don’t know. I have no particular insight.
I tentatively recommend the book in a general sense because recommending it to specific people would indicate I understood it more than I really did. But I do recommend it because it is making me think about these topics and I believe that’s a valuable thing.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
59. Living Dead In Dallas
By Charlaine Harris (272 pgs)
Rating: 4
Sookie and Bill (the vampire)are being loaned out to a conclave of vampires in Dallas who are in need of some gentle fact finding. Gentle in the no torture sense. Meanwhile a Maenid has turned up in the area and uses Sookie's flesh as a billboard.
The writing in Living Dead In Dallas is more polished than the first book in the series but it still has some large flaws. For example there is a plot element that only appears in the beginning and at the end of the book. This would not be a problem accept that I actually forgot all about it until it appeared to resolve a secondary plot line. I begin to sense some movement towards the supernatural orgies phenomenon and I'm not pleased about it. However, bearing all that in mind, this was still and enjoyable quick read.
Recommended to the vampire fans and anyone who liked the first book.
Rating: 4
Sookie and Bill (the vampire)are being loaned out to a conclave of vampires in Dallas who are in need of some gentle fact finding. Gentle in the no torture sense. Meanwhile a Maenid has turned up in the area and uses Sookie's flesh as a billboard.
The writing in Living Dead In Dallas is more polished than the first book in the series but it still has some large flaws. For example there is a plot element that only appears in the beginning and at the end of the book. This would not be a problem accept that I actually forgot all about it until it appeared to resolve a secondary plot line. I begin to sense some movement towards the supernatural orgies phenomenon and I'm not pleased about it. However, bearing all that in mind, this was still and enjoyable quick read.
Recommended to the vampire fans and anyone who liked the first book.
Friday, September 15, 2006
58. Japanese Women Don't get Old or Fat
By Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle (288 pgs)
Rating: 3
The newest (to me at least) in the *name a cultural group* don't get fat books. This one is a snarky explanation about why Japanese diet is superior to all others. Much like the Mediterranean and the French, it has some very good points. There are some nice recipes and I'm sure the japanophiles will appreciate the cultural superiority.
To me the most useful thing in Japanese Women Don't get Old or Fat are the Japanese breakfasts and special ingredient suggestions. Moriyama also makes an interesting point about the American giant sized dinner plates.
Recommended for people who like the Japanese culture and food. I suspect that this is a 'gateway book' into cooking Japanese food.
Rating: 3
The newest (to me at least) in the *name a cultural group* don't get fat books. This one is a snarky explanation about why Japanese diet is superior to all others. Much like the Mediterranean and the French, it has some very good points. There are some nice recipes and I'm sure the japanophiles will appreciate the cultural superiority.
To me the most useful thing in Japanese Women Don't get Old or Fat are the Japanese breakfasts and special ingredient suggestions. Moriyama also makes an interesting point about the American giant sized dinner plates.
Recommended for people who like the Japanese culture and food. I suspect that this is a 'gateway book' into cooking Japanese food.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
57. Dead Until Dark
by Charlaine Harris (304 pgs)
Rating: 3
Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress at a bar in rural Louisiana but she's also a telepath plagued by the constant awareness of everyone's thoughts. Vampires, however, as it turns out are telepathic blanks to her which is much better than knowing what people are thinking all the time and very attractive in a potential mate. Cue Bill the vampire.
Dead Until Dark is part of the new vampire romance/mystery genre. Lucky for us Harris is a decent writer. Sookie and Bill are both immediately interesting characters. The premise is, if not believable, pretty compelling and the mystery was pretty decent although there were not many opportunities for the reader to figure it out ahead of the character. Actually there was no way for the reader to figure it out first, so I would suggest reading this for the mystery aspect. I think the series has potential.
Recommended to people who like the Anita Blake series but got tired of the supernatural orgies.
Rating: 3
Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress at a bar in rural Louisiana but she's also a telepath plagued by the constant awareness of everyone's thoughts. Vampires, however, as it turns out are telepathic blanks to her which is much better than knowing what people are thinking all the time and very attractive in a potential mate. Cue Bill the vampire.
Dead Until Dark is part of the new vampire romance/mystery genre. Lucky for us Harris is a decent writer. Sookie and Bill are both immediately interesting characters. The premise is, if not believable, pretty compelling and the mystery was pretty decent although there were not many opportunities for the reader to figure it out ahead of the character. Actually there was no way for the reader to figure it out first, so I would suggest reading this for the mystery aspect. I think the series has potential.
Recommended to people who like the Anita Blake series but got tired of the supernatural orgies.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
56. How To Be Good
by Nick Hornby (305 pgs)
Rating: 5
Katie Carr is a doctor. She cares about people. She cares about world issues. She tries very hard 'to be good.' And she is good to. Isn't she? Ok she doesn't invite homeless people into her home or give away all her excess income but she can still be good. Right? Right!? One would think so but when her husband goes from first class prick to reborn secular saint, he challenges her sense of comparative goodness.
How to be Good is hilarious and sad. It challenges ideas of goodness particularly in contrast to meeting one's own needs. While it does make a lot of very good points I think the most interesting facet was in how it pointed out how difficult it is to argue with the righteous. We know that we need to take care of ourselves and deserve to have the luxuries we work for, but it's hard to argue that when someone pulls a 'but people are starving in India.' How do you defend yourself without feeling like a prick and is it even possible to?
Recommended for people who like to dwell on the grey.
Rating: 5
Katie Carr is a doctor. She cares about people. She cares about world issues. She tries very hard 'to be good.' And she is good to. Isn't she? Ok she doesn't invite homeless people into her home or give away all her excess income but she can still be good. Right? Right!? One would think so but when her husband goes from first class prick to reborn secular saint, he challenges her sense of comparative goodness.
How to be Good is hilarious and sad. It challenges ideas of goodness particularly in contrast to meeting one's own needs. While it does make a lot of very good points I think the most interesting facet was in how it pointed out how difficult it is to argue with the righteous. We know that we need to take care of ourselves and deserve to have the luxuries we work for, but it's hard to argue that when someone pulls a 'but people are starving in India.' How do you defend yourself without feeling like a prick and is it even possible to?
Recommended for people who like to dwell on the grey.
Update
Sorry...things have gotten away from me and I'm at least a half dozen book reviews behind.
I believe I'm also seeing the collapse of the list system. It's a lot of fun but it's beginning to feel very restrictive so I may just say I'm going to still be persuing the lists but I think I'll be reading many many things off list as well. I'll start catching up as well over the next few days.
I believe I'm also seeing the collapse of the list system. It's a lot of fun but it's beginning to feel very restrictive so I may just say I'm going to still be persuing the lists but I think I'll be reading many many things off list as well. I'll start catching up as well over the next few days.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
55. Ogre, Ogre
By Piers Anthony (320 pgs)
Rating: 2
Smash the Ogre and Tandy the half nymph half human trek across Xanth at the instigation of the Humphrey the Good Magician as the answer to two half-formed questions.
It's a coming of age story. It's a romance. It's all about the groovy soul swapping, man. It's all about the puns. gag Ogre, Ogre is a total let down if I hadn't finished it (as I was tempted not to) I wouldn't have discovered it has a marginally redeeming, if overly moralistic, ending. It's slow, plastic, overly punny boredom. Come on Piers, I'm disappointed in you. I know you can do better.
recommendation? SKIP IT.
Rating: 2
Smash the Ogre and Tandy the half nymph half human trek across Xanth at the instigation of the Humphrey the Good Magician as the answer to two half-formed questions.
It's a coming of age story. It's a romance. It's all about the groovy soul swapping, man. It's all about the puns. gag Ogre, Ogre is a total let down if I hadn't finished it (as I was tempted not to) I wouldn't have discovered it has a marginally redeeming, if overly moralistic, ending. It's slow, plastic, overly punny boredom. Come on Piers, I'm disappointed in you. I know you can do better.
recommendation? SKIP IT.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
54. Salem's Lot
by Stephen King (656 pgs)
Rating: 4
A writer returns to a brief home of his youth in rural Maine to confront a fear that wakes him up in the night even as an adult. Yet he finds that there's more to fear than old houses and ghosts as an ancient evil moves into 'Salem's Lot and slowly takes over the town.
'Salem's Lot is a vampire story in the classic sense. No vague sensuality. No barely veiled trashy romance novel thriller. Salem's Lot is a spooky chilling story reminiscent of Dracula, the Countess Bathory, and good 'ole Vlad Teppes. It is, however, a six hundred and fifty six page spooky chilling story. A daunting size by any measure. Is that length truly needed, yes to a certain extent. While the novel has only three or four main characters, it is truly horrible because of 'the town' as a unit. The space is used to flesh out the town's character and characters as much as follow the plot.
It is slow going most of the way through but it is also a contemplative book about concepts of Evil and evil. I recommend this to people who enjoyed reading Dracula and to Anne Rice fans to get them back to the origins of the genre.
Rating: 4
A writer returns to a brief home of his youth in rural Maine to confront a fear that wakes him up in the night even as an adult. Yet he finds that there's more to fear than old houses and ghosts as an ancient evil moves into 'Salem's Lot and slowly takes over the town.
'Salem's Lot is a vampire story in the classic sense. No vague sensuality. No barely veiled trashy romance novel thriller. Salem's Lot is a spooky chilling story reminiscent of Dracula, the Countess Bathory, and good 'ole Vlad Teppes. It is, however, a six hundred and fifty six page spooky chilling story. A daunting size by any measure. Is that length truly needed, yes to a certain extent. While the novel has only three or four main characters, it is truly horrible because of 'the town' as a unit. The space is used to flesh out the town's character and characters as much as follow the plot.
It is slow going most of the way through but it is also a contemplative book about concepts of Evil and evil. I recommend this to people who enjoyed reading Dracula and to Anne Rice fans to get them back to the origins of the genre.
Monday, July 17, 2006
53. The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary - NF
by Simon Winchester (242 pgs)
Rating: 4
Dr. Minor and Dr. Murray are about as different as possible but they shared a common pursuit: the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. The OED is particularly interesting because it not only is a dictionary in the normal sense but it also provides quotations for each meaning and shade of meaning every word has. After a ragged beginning, Dr. Murray is put in charge of the enormous project of creating the OED. To do this he, as did his predecessors, appealed to the learned populace to volunteer much of the labor of collecting quotations. Oddly it was several years before Dr. Murray realizes that one of his most valuable volunteers is actually institutionalized as criminally insane.
The Professor and the Madman is a compellingly written work of non-fiction. It was quite difficult to put down and, aside from a section on the history of lexicography, it was a well paced narrative. Winchester draws as sources: military records, hospital notes, correspondence, and records from the present offices of the OED. He weaves these disparate sources into a nearly seamless story that is fascinating and melancholy. He also points out the subtle irony that had Dr. Minor been treated for his schizophrenia, it is possible that the OED would not exist in it's current form.
Recommended to people with very large vocabularies and students of the English language.
Rating: 4
Dr. Minor and Dr. Murray are about as different as possible but they shared a common pursuit: the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. The OED is particularly interesting because it not only is a dictionary in the normal sense but it also provides quotations for each meaning and shade of meaning every word has. After a ragged beginning, Dr. Murray is put in charge of the enormous project of creating the OED. To do this he, as did his predecessors, appealed to the learned populace to volunteer much of the labor of collecting quotations. Oddly it was several years before Dr. Murray realizes that one of his most valuable volunteers is actually institutionalized as criminally insane.
The Professor and the Madman is a compellingly written work of non-fiction. It was quite difficult to put down and, aside from a section on the history of lexicography, it was a well paced narrative. Winchester draws as sources: military records, hospital notes, correspondence, and records from the present offices of the OED. He weaves these disparate sources into a nearly seamless story that is fascinating and melancholy. He also points out the subtle irony that had Dr. Minor been treated for his schizophrenia, it is possible that the OED would not exist in it's current form.
Recommended to people with very large vocabularies and students of the English language.
Monday, July 10, 2006
52. Childhood's End
by Arthur C. Clarke (224 pgs)
Rating: 4
Mankind stands on the brink of launching themselves into space and then the Overlords show up. Who are the Overlords? Interstellar busybodies intent on forcing mankind to mature into a peaceful species. Of course there's more to it...but no one's entirely sure what and therein lies the intriguing mystery.
Childhood's End is certainly science fiction but I wouldn't argue with anyone who wanted to put in horror. There's no boogie monsters or scary blood filled scenes, just a very chilling concept. The writing is adequate although not stellar. This a completely plot driven book. Don't expect to fall in love with any of the characters. That being said...it's a really good book that's difficult to talk about without giving something important away.
Read it, all ye sci fi fans.
Rating: 4
Mankind stands on the brink of launching themselves into space and then the Overlords show up. Who are the Overlords? Interstellar busybodies intent on forcing mankind to mature into a peaceful species. Of course there's more to it...but no one's entirely sure what and therein lies the intriguing mystery.
Childhood's End is certainly science fiction but I wouldn't argue with anyone who wanted to put in horror. There's no boogie monsters or scary blood filled scenes, just a very chilling concept. The writing is adequate although not stellar. This a completely plot driven book. Don't expect to fall in love with any of the characters. That being said...it's a really good book that's difficult to talk about without giving something important away.
Read it, all ye sci fi fans.
Friday, July 07, 2006
51. A Long Way Down
by Nick Hornby
Rating: 3
Four complete strangers individually decide to toss themselves from the top of 'Topper's House' on December 31st. Interestingly, after meeting each other, they all decide not to commit suicide and start setting about 'what comes next.' What comes next is a mess.
Despite its somewhat morose premise, A Long Way Down is not a depressing book. It's meandering style and engaging (but bizarre) characters meld into an interesting disorganized narrative about the ups and downs of life. I think in some places the narrative is a little jarring, particularly when switching between the American narrative voice and the British ones. Still it was an interesting exploration of the subject. Surprisingly uplifting, Hornby reminds us that quality of life is a matter of perception. While I doubt I'll ever want to read this book again, I'm glad I put the time into it. It's not a bad thing to laugh at our dark sides now and again.
Recommended for people going through a rough time and people who've read too many gothic romances.
Rating: 3
Four complete strangers individually decide to toss themselves from the top of 'Topper's House' on December 31st. Interestingly, after meeting each other, they all decide not to commit suicide and start setting about 'what comes next.' What comes next is a mess.
Despite its somewhat morose premise, A Long Way Down is not a depressing book. It's meandering style and engaging (but bizarre) characters meld into an interesting disorganized narrative about the ups and downs of life. I think in some places the narrative is a little jarring, particularly when switching between the American narrative voice and the British ones. Still it was an interesting exploration of the subject. Surprisingly uplifting, Hornby reminds us that quality of life is a matter of perception. While I doubt I'll ever want to read this book again, I'm glad I put the time into it. It's not a bad thing to laugh at our dark sides now and again.
Recommended for people going through a rough time and people who've read too many gothic romances.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
List 7: Dewey Deconstructed
Source: More Book Lust (p 62-78)
This is a list that follows, in a general way, the Dewey classification system. The system is broken into its 10 'centuries' and Pearl then gives suggestions in each broad grouping. Most of the recommendations are non-fiction and this does actually constitute another 'mega-list.'
I thought long and hard before choosing another mega list, particularly when I'm still working on the massive Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. In the process I thought very seriously about why I'm doing this book journal at all. Of course, I hope that people read it and enjoy it, but I think for me it is more about a process of self education. I have always read a massive amount and enjoyed reading but I have not always read widely; sticking mainly to fantasy, some science fiction, and general fluff as a teenager.
I think, in fact, that it is a comment on the educational system that I managed to stay in honors level English all the way through High School and was not exposed to creative non fiction or much in the way of modern literary fiction. Now this is not really a criticism of my teachers themselves, most of them were very good, but it is comment on the homoganization that seems to be encouraged in public education. I can't remember any teacher being interested in what I was reading outside of class. I really don't know what this is a function of or whether my retrospective expectations are too high but I do wish that I'd had a little more guidance in my reading material.
So I feel that this blog and particularly this year's challenge is really a process of self education. And to that end, I've pick the most varied non-fiction list I could find.
So here we go:
* indicates books mentioned but not really part of the list.
000's:
A dangerous section for me. Books about books! and reference material to boot. I am not, however, reading the entire Encylopedia Britannica...even I am not that insane.
1. So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson
2. A Feeling for Books: The Book-of-the-Month Club, Literary Taste, and Middle-Class Desire by Janice A. Radway
3. A Child's Delight by Noel Perrin
4. Encyclopedia Britannica (yeah right!)
5. Another Part of the Wood: A Self Portrait by Sir Kenneth Clark*
100's:
Philosophy and psychology.
6. The Cult of Personality: How Personality Tests Are Leading Us to Miseducate Our Children, Mismanage Our Companies, and Misunderstand Ourselves by Annie Murphy Paul
7. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns
8. On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
9. The Art of Dying: How to Leave This World with Dignity and Grace, at Peace with Yourself and Your Loved Ones by Patricia Weenolsen
10. The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant
11. Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Edward Craig
12. The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy by Colin McGinn
13. The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
14. The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World by David Abrams
200's:
Religion.
15. World Religions by John Bowker
16. The Religions of Man (aka The Worlds Religions) by Huston Smith
17. The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions by Huston Smith?
18. God: A Biography by Jack Miles
19. Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother by Lesley Hazleton
20. The Battle For God by Karen Armstrong
300's:
Social Sciences.
21. Why Thing's Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences by Edward Tenner
22. Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
23. A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East by David Fromkin
24. Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence by Gerard Jones
25. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim
26. Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy by Eric Hansen
27. The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean*
28. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
29. Old Friends by Tracy Kidder
30. The Big Test: The Secret History of the American Meritocracy by Nicholas Lemann
31. Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations by Micheal Walzer
400's:
Language.
32. The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
33. The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
34. Caught in a Web of Words: James Murray and the Oxford English Dictionary by Elisabeth Murray
35. Eats Shoots & Leaves: A Zero Tolerance Guide to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
36. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey*
37. In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World by Christopher J. Moore
38. The Superior Person's Book of Words by Peter Bowler
39. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary: Selections from the 1755 Work That Defined the English Language edited by Jack Lynch
40. Descriptionary: A Thematic Dictionary by Marc McCutcheon
500's:
Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
41. An Obsession with Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair with a Singular Insect by Sharman Apt Russell
42. Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage by Robert Michael Pyle
43. Meetings With Remarkable Trees by Thomas Pakenham
44. Remarkable Trees of the World by Thomas Pakenham
45. Monsters of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind by David Quammen
46. The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction by David Quammen
47. Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
48. The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
49. Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History by Stephen Jay Gould
50. The Periodic Kingdom: A Journey into the Land of the Chemical Elements by Peter Atkins
51. E=mc^2: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis
52. The Joy of Pi by David Blatner
600's:
Technology and Applied Sciences.
53. Tools of the Trade: The Art and Craft of Carpentry by Jeff Taylor
54. The Secret Family: Twenty-four Hours Inside the Mysterious World of Our Minds and Bodies by David Bodanis
55. Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier
56. Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer
57. Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads
58. The Book Lover's Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature and the Passages that Feature Them by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen
59. One Writer's Beginnings by Eudora Welty*
60. Where the Heart Is by Billie Lett*
61. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende*
62. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald*
63. A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband with Bettina's Best Recipes by Louise Bennett Weaver
64. Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century by Laura Shapiro
65. Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America by Laura Shapiro
700's:
Arts, Games, and Sports.
66. An American Collection: Works from the Amon Carter Museum
67. Vermeer in Bosnia: Cultural Comedies and Political Tragedies by Lawrence Welschler
68. Jackie Robinson: A Biography by Arnold Rampersad
69. King of the World by David Remnick
70. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis
71. Off Balance: The Real World of Ballet by Suzanne Gordon
800's:
Literary Theory and Literature.
72. No Other Book: Selected Essays by Randell Jarrell
73. Remembering Randall: A Memoir of a Poet, Critic, and Teacher Randell Jerrell by Mary Jarrell*
74. How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love With Poetry by Edward Hirsch
75. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt
76. I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory by Patricia Hampl
77. Inside Out: A Memoir of the Blacklist by Walter Bernstein
78. Why Read? by Mark Edmundson
900's:
History and Geography.
79. Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy by Diana Preston
80. Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists by Tony Perrottet
81. Night Train to Turkistan: Modern Adventures along China's Ancient Silk Road by Stuart Stevens
82. Iron & Silk by Mark Salzman*
83. News from Tartary by Peter Flemming
84. Forbidden Journey: From Peking to Kashmir by Ella K. Maillart
85. A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts: Journeys in Kurdistan by Christiane Bird
86. All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer
87. The Fall of Baghdad by Jon Lee Anderson
88. Iliad by Homer*
89. The Lost and Found: The 9,000 Treasures of Troy: Heinrich Schliemann and the Gold that Got Away by Caroline Moorehead
90. From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present by Jacques Barzun
91. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
92. My Kind of Place: Travel Stories from a Woman Who's Been Everywhere by Susan Orlean
This is a list that follows, in a general way, the Dewey classification system. The system is broken into its 10 'centuries' and Pearl then gives suggestions in each broad grouping. Most of the recommendations are non-fiction and this does actually constitute another 'mega-list.'
I thought long and hard before choosing another mega list, particularly when I'm still working on the massive Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. In the process I thought very seriously about why I'm doing this book journal at all. Of course, I hope that people read it and enjoy it, but I think for me it is more about a process of self education. I have always read a massive amount and enjoyed reading but I have not always read widely; sticking mainly to fantasy, some science fiction, and general fluff as a teenager.
I think, in fact, that it is a comment on the educational system that I managed to stay in honors level English all the way through High School and was not exposed to creative non fiction or much in the way of modern literary fiction. Now this is not really a criticism of my teachers themselves, most of them were very good, but it is comment on the homoganization that seems to be encouraged in public education. I can't remember any teacher being interested in what I was reading outside of class. I really don't know what this is a function of or whether my retrospective expectations are too high but I do wish that I'd had a little more guidance in my reading material.
So I feel that this blog and particularly this year's challenge is really a process of self education. And to that end, I've pick the most varied non-fiction list I could find.
So here we go:
* indicates books mentioned but not really part of the list.
000's:
A dangerous section for me. Books about books! and reference material to boot. I am not, however, reading the entire Encylopedia Britannica...even I am not that insane.
1. So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson
2. A Feeling for Books: The Book-of-the-Month Club, Literary Taste, and Middle-Class Desire by Janice A. Radway
3. A Child's Delight by Noel Perrin
4. Encyclopedia Britannica (yeah right!)
5. Another Part of the Wood: A Self Portrait by Sir Kenneth Clark*
100's:
Philosophy and psychology.
6. The Cult of Personality: How Personality Tests Are Leading Us to Miseducate Our Children, Mismanage Our Companies, and Misunderstand Ourselves by Annie Murphy Paul
7. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns
8. On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
9. The Art of Dying: How to Leave This World with Dignity and Grace, at Peace with Yourself and Your Loved Ones by Patricia Weenolsen
10. The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant
11. Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Edward Craig
12. The Making of a Philosopher: My Journey Through Twentieth-Century Philosophy by Colin McGinn
13. The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
14. The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World by David Abrams
200's:
Religion.
15. World Religions by John Bowker
16. The Religions of Man (aka The Worlds Religions) by Huston Smith
17. The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions by Huston Smith?
18. God: A Biography by Jack Miles
19. Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother by Lesley Hazleton
20. The Battle For God by Karen Armstrong
300's:
Social Sciences.
21. Why Thing's Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences by Edward Tenner
22. Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks
23. A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East by David Fromkin
24. Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence by Gerard Jones
25. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales by Bruno Bettelheim
26. Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust, and Lunacy by Eric Hansen
27. The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean*
28. A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
29. Old Friends by Tracy Kidder
30. The Big Test: The Secret History of the American Meritocracy by Nicholas Lemann
31. Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations by Micheal Walzer
400's:
Language.
32. The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
33. The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
34. Caught in a Web of Words: James Murray and the Oxford English Dictionary by Elisabeth Murray
35. Eats Shoots & Leaves: A Zero Tolerance Guide to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
36. True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey*
37. In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World by Christopher J. Moore
38. The Superior Person's Book of Words by Peter Bowler
39. Samuel Johnson's Dictionary: Selections from the 1755 Work That Defined the English Language edited by Jack Lynch
40. Descriptionary: A Thematic Dictionary by Marc McCutcheon
500's:
Natural Sciences and Mathematics:
41. An Obsession with Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair with a Singular Insect by Sharman Apt Russell
42. Chasing Monarchs: Migrating with the Butterflies of Passage by Robert Michael Pyle
43. Meetings With Remarkable Trees by Thomas Pakenham
44. Remarkable Trees of the World by Thomas Pakenham
45. Monsters of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind by David Quammen
46. The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction by David Quammen
47. Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel
48. The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
49. Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History by Stephen Jay Gould
50. The Periodic Kingdom: A Journey into the Land of the Chemical Elements by Peter Atkins
51. E=mc^2: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis
52. The Joy of Pi by David Blatner
600's:
Technology and Applied Sciences.
53. Tools of the Trade: The Art and Craft of Carpentry by Jeff Taylor
54. The Secret Family: Twenty-four Hours Inside the Mysterious World of Our Minds and Bodies by David Bodanis
55. Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier
56. Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer
57. Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads
58. The Book Lover's Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature and the Passages that Feature Them by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen
59. One Writer's Beginnings by Eudora Welty*
60. Where the Heart Is by Billie Lett*
61. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende*
62. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald*
63. A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband with Bettina's Best Recipes by Louise Bennett Weaver
64. Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century by Laura Shapiro
65. Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America by Laura Shapiro
700's:
Arts, Games, and Sports.
66. An American Collection: Works from the Amon Carter Museum
67. Vermeer in Bosnia: Cultural Comedies and Political Tragedies by Lawrence Welschler
68. Jackie Robinson: A Biography by Arnold Rampersad
69. King of the World by David Remnick
70. Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis
71. Off Balance: The Real World of Ballet by Suzanne Gordon
800's:
Literary Theory and Literature.
72. No Other Book: Selected Essays by Randell Jarrell
73. Remembering Randall: A Memoir of a Poet, Critic, and Teacher Randell Jerrell by Mary Jarrell*
74. How to Read a Poem: And Fall in Love With Poetry by Edward Hirsch
75. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt
76. I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory by Patricia Hampl
77. Inside Out: A Memoir of the Blacklist by Walter Bernstein
78. Why Read? by Mark Edmundson
900's:
History and Geography.
79. Lusitania: An Epic Tragedy by Diana Preston
80. Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists by Tony Perrottet
81. Night Train to Turkistan: Modern Adventures along China's Ancient Silk Road by Stuart Stevens
82. Iron & Silk by Mark Salzman*
83. News from Tartary by Peter Flemming
84. Forbidden Journey: From Peking to Kashmir by Ella K. Maillart
85. A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts: Journeys in Kurdistan by Christiane Bird
86. All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer
87. The Fall of Baghdad by Jon Lee Anderson
88. Iliad by Homer*
89. The Lost and Found: The 9,000 Treasures of Troy: Heinrich Schliemann and the Gold that Got Away by Caroline Moorehead
90. From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present by Jacques Barzun
91. The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
92. My Kind of Place: Travel Stories from a Woman Who's Been Everywhere by Susan Orlean
50. Centaur Aisle
by Piers Anthony (304 pgs)
Rating: 2
Dor is left temporarily in charge of Xanth while King Trent is in Mundania on a trade mission. Everything goes as well as can be expected but when King Trent doesn't return on time, Dor finds himself on a mission to find the missing monarch.
There are only two reasons why anyone would want to read Centaur Aisle. 1. to be able say one has read the entire series. 2. because there is one interesting plot point relevant to the series as a whole.
Otherwise, the characters are wooden and annoyingly whiney for the most part. The prose doesn't flow as well as in some of the other books in the series and frankly...I was bored. While things certainly happened...it felt very disjointed and episodic. The first half was amusing but doesn't make it worth reading the book.
While I didn't hate it, my recommendation is still to just skip it.
Rating: 2
Dor is left temporarily in charge of Xanth while King Trent is in Mundania on a trade mission. Everything goes as well as can be expected but when King Trent doesn't return on time, Dor finds himself on a mission to find the missing monarch.
There are only two reasons why anyone would want to read Centaur Aisle. 1. to be able say one has read the entire series. 2. because there is one interesting plot point relevant to the series as a whole.
Otherwise, the characters are wooden and annoyingly whiney for the most part. The prose doesn't flow as well as in some of the other books in the series and frankly...I was bored. While things certainly happened...it felt very disjointed and episodic. The first half was amusing but doesn't make it worth reading the book.
While I didn't hate it, my recommendation is still to just skip it.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
List 6: David L's List of all things Hornby
David is a former co-worker, who when I first started this year's reading challenge said 'you should read Nick Hornby...all of Nick Hornby.' He also insisted that I'd be able to read one a day. :) So here we go!
Fiction
1. High Fidelity
2. A Long Way Down
3. About a Boy
4. How To Be Good
Non-Fiction
5. Fever Pitch
6. 31 Songs
7. The Polysyllabic Spree
Fiction
1. High Fidelity
2. A Long Way Down
3. About a Boy
4. How To Be Good
Non-Fiction
5. Fever Pitch
6. 31 Songs
7. The Polysyllabic Spree
49. Second Foundation
by Isaac Asimov (304 pgs)
Rating: 4
After the empire of the Mule, the people of the foundation begin to suspect that Seldon's plan has gone horribly awry and some believe that the Second Foundation (if it exists) will cruise in and save them no matter what. However, the Second Foundation are fabled to have super human mental abilities much as the Mule did and this cause a fair bit of paranoid speculation.
Picking up only a few years after the end of the previous book,Second Foundation is perhaps the best of the first three. Unlike the first two, the same plot line persists through the entire book. While the shorter plots were not bad, they were a bit jarring. Second Foundation, in contrast, had very smooth transitions and very interesting plot twists. The end was reminiscent of the movie Clue...in a good way. I really enjoyed the convoluted plot; it was complex without being difficult to follow. In some ways it was more like a psychological thriller than a science fiction novel.
While it's not a light read, I would recommend this to anyone who even had a passing interest in science fiction.
Rating: 4
After the empire of the Mule, the people of the foundation begin to suspect that Seldon's plan has gone horribly awry and some believe that the Second Foundation (if it exists) will cruise in and save them no matter what. However, the Second Foundation are fabled to have super human mental abilities much as the Mule did and this cause a fair bit of paranoid speculation.
Picking up only a few years after the end of the previous book,Second Foundation is perhaps the best of the first three. Unlike the first two, the same plot line persists through the entire book. While the shorter plots were not bad, they were a bit jarring. Second Foundation, in contrast, had very smooth transitions and very interesting plot twists. The end was reminiscent of the movie Clue...in a good way. I really enjoyed the convoluted plot; it was complex without being difficult to follow. In some ways it was more like a psychological thriller than a science fiction novel.
While it's not a light read, I would recommend this to anyone who even had a passing interest in science fiction.
48. Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card (384 pages)
Rating: 4
Ender is an above average kid. To say he was bright would be like accusing light bulbs of being dim. So suffice it to say the kid gots the smarts and the temperament to be a genius...the only trick is manufacturing enough emotional angst to produce one. That's where the military comes in. Before we come down on the evil adults too hard let's admit that when you are fighting an intergalactic war against an alien species of intelligent insects, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Ender's Game is considered a classic of science fiction by many and justifiably so. It is a fairly accessible work that is well written, and, aside from a couple very small plot holes,is well conceived. The characters are a tad two dimensional although forgivably so and the end, while not predictable, holds no surprises for sci fi fans. One wonders about the sequels since the end fairly well wraps it all up, but I guess I will find out about those.
I recommend this to new comers to the genre and to those who wish to read the sci fi classics. I do not recommend this to nit pickers.
Rating: 4
Ender is an above average kid. To say he was bright would be like accusing light bulbs of being dim. So suffice it to say the kid gots the smarts and the temperament to be a genius...the only trick is manufacturing enough emotional angst to produce one. That's where the military comes in. Before we come down on the evil adults too hard let's admit that when you are fighting an intergalactic war against an alien species of intelligent insects, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Ender's Game is considered a classic of science fiction by many and justifiably so. It is a fairly accessible work that is well written, and, aside from a couple very small plot holes,is well conceived. The characters are a tad two dimensional although forgivably so and the end, while not predictable, holds no surprises for sci fi fans. One wonders about the sequels since the end fairly well wraps it all up, but I guess I will find out about those.
I recommend this to new comers to the genre and to those who wish to read the sci fi classics. I do not recommend this to nit pickers.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
47. Mediterranean Women Stay Slim, Too
by Melissa Kelly and Eve Adamson (336 pgs)
Rating: 3
Americans are the most diet crazed people out there. So why is it that we are also some of the heaviest out there. Partially it's reflective, we as a society obsess about food and about weight so we also obsess about weight loss. Part of it is a reflection of our work-aholic expectations...who has time to eat, let alone eat well. So the premise of this book, much like French Women Don't Get Fat, is that we wouldn't have such problems if we slowed down, listened to our bodies, and applied some common sense. Be a food snob, it says, better to put good food in the body than junk.
While not as good as French Women Don't Get Fat, Mediterranean Women Stay Slim, Too is a good read promoting common sense and rejecting extreme fad diets and unrealistic body expectations. The text isn't nearly as empowering to me but there is a lot of good information and many good looking recipes.
Recommended to all of us who struggle against dieting fads. rawr!!
Rating: 3
Americans are the most diet crazed people out there. So why is it that we are also some of the heaviest out there. Partially it's reflective, we as a society obsess about food and about weight so we also obsess about weight loss. Part of it is a reflection of our work-aholic expectations...who has time to eat, let alone eat well. So the premise of this book, much like French Women Don't Get Fat, is that we wouldn't have such problems if we slowed down, listened to our bodies, and applied some common sense. Be a food snob, it says, better to put good food in the body than junk.
While not as good as French Women Don't Get Fat, Mediterranean Women Stay Slim, Too is a good read promoting common sense and rejecting extreme fad diets and unrealistic body expectations. The text isn't nearly as empowering to me but there is a lot of good information and many good looking recipes.
Recommended to all of us who struggle against dieting fads. rawr!!
46. Spellsinger
by Alan Dean Foster (352 pgs)
Rating: 3.5
Jonathan-Thomas Meriweather, a.k.a. JonTom, is plucked from his stoned out college student existence and dumped in a world where the animals have evolved into much larger and much more talkative versions than we are accustomed to. Understandably, at first he is very disoriented but a conversation with a talking turtle (and also one of the most powerful magicians in the land) clears up a great many of his questions.
Despite its somewhat ridiculous premise, Spellsinger is actually an enjoyable, if not terribly intellectual, book. The high-points are it's characterization, handling of the setting, and use of details to create a sense of verisimilitude. Downsides... it suffers a little from deus ex machina (although I admit that's a debatable point) and it's pure unadulterated fluff. However, it was fun and it was an enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours on a plane.
Recommended for kids 8 and up (depending on reading level) and as a quick read to fantasy fans. Rule of thumb, if you like Piers Anthony or Douglas Adams you probably will have fun with this.
Rating: 3.5
Jonathan-Thomas Meriweather, a.k.a. JonTom, is plucked from his stoned out college student existence and dumped in a world where the animals have evolved into much larger and much more talkative versions than we are accustomed to. Understandably, at first he is very disoriented but a conversation with a talking turtle (and also one of the most powerful magicians in the land) clears up a great many of his questions.
Despite its somewhat ridiculous premise, Spellsinger is actually an enjoyable, if not terribly intellectual, book. The high-points are it's characterization, handling of the setting, and use of details to create a sense of verisimilitude. Downsides... it suffers a little from deus ex machina (although I admit that's a debatable point) and it's pure unadulterated fluff. However, it was fun and it was an enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours on a plane.
Recommended for kids 8 and up (depending on reading level) and as a quick read to fantasy fans. Rule of thumb, if you like Piers Anthony or Douglas Adams you probably will have fun with this.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
45. The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster (272 pages)
Rating: 5
Milo, an apathetic youth in need of a good shaking up, comes home one day to find a large package in his room. Because he didn't have anything better to do he unpacks and sets up his very own tollbooth.
Ok so why does The Phantom Tollbooth get a five? 1. It's a well written piece of fiction with good characterization and a fun sense of humor and plot. 2. It is, obliquely, about the importance of education. And 3. It is, less obliquely about the relative importance of mathematics and the literary arts (in that they are equally important.) In a society of specialists where education is left more and more to the will of the child and the involvement of the parent I think this is a stellar work that explains the importance to the child gently and without the preachy overtones of so much of the available children's lit.
It is essentially a well rounded work that is a parable demonstrating many of the values (over used concept that it is right now) that the uber conservative elements in this country really ought to be concerned with as opposed to legislating morality for ourselves and the rest of the world. If you taught children appropriately to their abilities and not to some misguided concept of fairness, then issues of morality are something they can very well take care of themselves. I shall now step down from my soap box.
*ahem*
So, read the book. Whether you are adult or child I'm sure you will find amusement in it.
Rating: 5
Milo, an apathetic youth in need of a good shaking up, comes home one day to find a large package in his room. Because he didn't have anything better to do he unpacks and sets up his very own tollbooth.
Ok so why does The Phantom Tollbooth get a five? 1. It's a well written piece of fiction with good characterization and a fun sense of humor and plot. 2. It is, obliquely, about the importance of education. And 3. It is, less obliquely about the relative importance of mathematics and the literary arts (in that they are equally important.) In a society of specialists where education is left more and more to the will of the child and the involvement of the parent I think this is a stellar work that explains the importance to the child gently and without the preachy overtones of so much of the available children's lit.
It is essentially a well rounded work that is a parable demonstrating many of the values (over used concept that it is right now) that the uber conservative elements in this country really ought to be concerned with as opposed to legislating morality for ourselves and the rest of the world. If you taught children appropriately to their abilities and not to some misguided concept of fairness, then issues of morality are something they can very well take care of themselves. I shall now step down from my soap box.
*ahem*
So, read the book. Whether you are adult or child I'm sure you will find amusement in it.
Monday, June 12, 2006
44. The Forever War
by Joe Haldeman (288 pgs)
Rating: 5
War in space involves logistics that we never think of or worry about here. For example, if there were war in space at all, it would mean that we had vehicles capable of much faster travel than we do now. When approaching light speed, there are issues of time dilation where in the people on the vehicle are still 20 some odd years old and the planet they left behind is suddenly hundreds of years ago.
Classic science fiction of the best sort. Written in the early 70's, The Forever War is as much about the political and social climate of the time in which it was written as it is about space ships and mysterious alien foes. The themes explore why we go to war and some of the conclusions that Haldeman came to were not flattering to our species. At odd moments Haldeman takes digs at the sexual revolution, issues of homosexuality, and communism. I think I would like to read a book that overviews the political and social scene of the late 60's and the 70's. I think if I could find such a book and read it side by side with The Forever War, I would find Haldeman's book to be an interesting critique on the times.
Recommended for everyone who is interested in why we humans make the same mistakes over and over, the liberal dissatisfied, the complacent conservative, and my own people: the cynics.
Rating: 5
War in space involves logistics that we never think of or worry about here. For example, if there were war in space at all, it would mean that we had vehicles capable of much faster travel than we do now. When approaching light speed, there are issues of time dilation where in the people on the vehicle are still 20 some odd years old and the planet they left behind is suddenly hundreds of years ago.
Classic science fiction of the best sort. Written in the early 70's, The Forever War is as much about the political and social climate of the time in which it was written as it is about space ships and mysterious alien foes. The themes explore why we go to war and some of the conclusions that Haldeman came to were not flattering to our species. At odd moments Haldeman takes digs at the sexual revolution, issues of homosexuality, and communism. I think I would like to read a book that overviews the political and social scene of the late 60's and the 70's. I think if I could find such a book and read it side by side with The Forever War, I would find Haldeman's book to be an interesting critique on the times.
Recommended for everyone who is interested in why we humans make the same mistakes over and over, the liberal dissatisfied, the complacent conservative, and my own people: the cynics.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
43. The High King
by Lloyd Alexander (304 pgs)
Rating: 5
Immediately after returning from his quest of the previous book, Taran is drawn into a new set of disastrous events. A quest for a missing sword quickly escalates into a last ditch showdown with the major power of evil in Prydain. Everything comes to a head at once and the once Assistant Pig Keeper must now also be War Leader.
The High King is a remarkable book. As the climax to the Prydain Chronicles series, it is, what I'm tempted to call, a masterpiece of youth fiction. By the end of the book I found myself forgetting that these were simply characters in a work of fiction. In fact, I don't want to say too much about it, lest I give something away.
Recommended to everyone. It may be possible to read this as a stand alone but I think it would have less impact.
Rating: 5
Immediately after returning from his quest of the previous book, Taran is drawn into a new set of disastrous events. A quest for a missing sword quickly escalates into a last ditch showdown with the major power of evil in Prydain. Everything comes to a head at once and the once Assistant Pig Keeper must now also be War Leader.
The High King is a remarkable book. As the climax to the Prydain Chronicles series, it is, what I'm tempted to call, a masterpiece of youth fiction. By the end of the book I found myself forgetting that these were simply characters in a work of fiction. In fact, I don't want to say too much about it, lest I give something away.
Recommended to everyone. It may be possible to read this as a stand alone but I think it would have less impact.
42. Syrup
by Maxx Barry (304 pgs)
Rating: 4
Scat is a young marketing graduate who comes up with one really great idea. One idea that will set him up for life. One idea that will make him famous in the marketing world. One fabulous fantastic idea that will change the entire soda industry. Unfortunately, Scat's really bad at managing. Soon he is in way over his head and scrambling around set-backs and disappointments to reach his marketing nirvana with an ever present optimism.
Syrup is, I feel, a good example of modern satirical writing. The voice is witty and engaging, self-deprecating without being whiney, and amusing without being obnoxious. Barry makes sobering and hilarious point about the culture that, I at least, grew up in. A society where television and marketers have told us what to wear, what our bodies should look like, and what tastes good. While appropriately cynical, Barry's book is not self-indulgent and a good read for just about anyone who's ever said, 'wait a minute, that's total crap,' when watching a commercial.
Rating: 4
Scat is a young marketing graduate who comes up with one really great idea. One idea that will set him up for life. One idea that will make him famous in the marketing world. One fabulous fantastic idea that will change the entire soda industry. Unfortunately, Scat's really bad at managing. Soon he is in way over his head and scrambling around set-backs and disappointments to reach his marketing nirvana with an ever present optimism.
Syrup is, I feel, a good example of modern satirical writing. The voice is witty and engaging, self-deprecating without being whiney, and amusing without being obnoxious. Barry makes sobering and hilarious point about the culture that, I at least, grew up in. A society where television and marketers have told us what to wear, what our bodies should look like, and what tastes good. While appropriately cynical, Barry's book is not self-indulgent and a good read for just about anyone who's ever said, 'wait a minute, that's total crap,' when watching a commercial.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
41. Taran Wanderer
by Lloyd Alexander (272 pgs)
Rating: 4
Taran's love for the princes Eilonwy drives him to a quest to find his parents, desperately hoping that he discovers he is of noble birth. He and Gurgi set out first to the three weird sisters in the swamp and then off to the Free Commots. Along the way he learns a number of trades and discovers a number of things about himself. Loose ends are tied up and new avenues of plot open up.
Taran Wanderer is a true coming of age book. It is pure transition of Taran the boy to Taran the man. For all that, it is not guilty of the faults that most transition books have. It's not boring or disjointed and, despite the feelings of some, it's not the kind of book that would only appeal to young men. It is blatantly transitional, though, and really feels more like a prelude to the next book than a complete novel of it's own. Alexander took advantage of it to answer hanging questions and tie things from previous books more tightly together. On the one hand, it's obvious what he's doing, but on the other, it makes the world pop into focus as a 'real' place.
Recommended, particularly to young men, because it's interesting and compulsory if you've read the first three.
Rating: 4
Taran's love for the princes Eilonwy drives him to a quest to find his parents, desperately hoping that he discovers he is of noble birth. He and Gurgi set out first to the three weird sisters in the swamp and then off to the Free Commots. Along the way he learns a number of trades and discovers a number of things about himself. Loose ends are tied up and new avenues of plot open up.
Taran Wanderer is a true coming of age book. It is pure transition of Taran the boy to Taran the man. For all that, it is not guilty of the faults that most transition books have. It's not boring or disjointed and, despite the feelings of some, it's not the kind of book that would only appeal to young men. It is blatantly transitional, though, and really feels more like a prelude to the next book than a complete novel of it's own. Alexander took advantage of it to answer hanging questions and tie things from previous books more tightly together. On the one hand, it's obvious what he's doing, but on the other, it makes the world pop into focus as a 'real' place.
Recommended, particularly to young men, because it's interesting and compulsory if you've read the first three.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
40. The Castle of Llyr
by Lloyd Alexander (206 pgs)
Rating: 4
Eilonwy and Taran are growing up. Unfortunately, for Eilonwy, that means it's time to start learning how to be what she is: a princess. To that end, their guardian, Dallben, packs her off to the Island of Mona to be educated and Taran and Gurgi accompany her to get her settled in. When they get there, however, things are not as they seem (are they ever?) and things very quickly spin out of control.
The Castle of Llyr is the shortest of the five novels but by no means the least of them. In its compact space Alexander crams in an incredible amount of character development. Although Eilonwy is absent for the majority of the book, she has a profound impact on the outcome. Alexander does cause his characters to exhibit growth as from adolescent to young adult. I feel that despite her absence for much of the book, Eilonwy finally comes into her own.
Recommend as it continues the series and on it's own if it were possible but I'm afraid it is necessary to read all of the previous books in the series.
Rating: 4
Eilonwy and Taran are growing up. Unfortunately, for Eilonwy, that means it's time to start learning how to be what she is: a princess. To that end, their guardian, Dallben, packs her off to the Island of Mona to be educated and Taran and Gurgi accompany her to get her settled in. When they get there, however, things are not as they seem (are they ever?) and things very quickly spin out of control.
The Castle of Llyr is the shortest of the five novels but by no means the least of them. In its compact space Alexander crams in an incredible amount of character development. Although Eilonwy is absent for the majority of the book, she has a profound impact on the outcome. Alexander does cause his characters to exhibit growth as from adolescent to young adult. I feel that despite her absence for much of the book, Eilonwy finally comes into her own.
Recommend as it continues the series and on it's own if it were possible but I'm afraid it is necessary to read all of the previous books in the series.
Friday, May 26, 2006
39. The Black Cauldron
by Lloyd Alexander (229 pgs)
Rating: 4
Taran and his compatriots are again called on for serious undertakings. This time it is to track down the fearsome Black Cauldron, source of Arawn's unkillable Cauldron Born. When the initial plan fails, Taran and his group undertake to find the Cauldron themselves. When all seems bleakest an enemy redeems themself.
The Black Cauldron is the second book in the Prydian Chronicles. Since I've already ranted about the Disney movie I'll forego a repeat. The writing in this volume is superior to the first. The characters fill out and become interesting in their own rights. Eilonwy becomes a strong female figure instead of a whiney back drop. The implacable bard shows some depth and even Gurgi gets some real pathos. Doli the dwarf is somewhat enigmatic. He is not distinct as an individual yet but he is improving. In fact, the only real criticism I have is in regards to the stock phrases a couple of the characters have. For example, Eilonwy is addicted to similies. I begin to find it somewhat tedious but it's a minor thing really. The plot and characters more than make up for it.
Recommended. Just recommended.
Rating: 4
Taran and his compatriots are again called on for serious undertakings. This time it is to track down the fearsome Black Cauldron, source of Arawn's unkillable Cauldron Born. When the initial plan fails, Taran and his group undertake to find the Cauldron themselves. When all seems bleakest an enemy redeems themself.
The Black Cauldron is the second book in the Prydian Chronicles. Since I've already ranted about the Disney movie I'll forego a repeat. The writing in this volume is superior to the first. The characters fill out and become interesting in their own rights. Eilonwy becomes a strong female figure instead of a whiney back drop. The implacable bard shows some depth and even Gurgi gets some real pathos. Doli the dwarf is somewhat enigmatic. He is not distinct as an individual yet but he is improving. In fact, the only real criticism I have is in regards to the stock phrases a couple of the characters have. For example, Eilonwy is addicted to similies. I begin to find it somewhat tedious but it's a minor thing really. The plot and characters more than make up for it.
Recommended. Just recommended.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
38. The Book of Three
by Lloyd Alexander (224 pgs)
Rating: 3
Taran, an orphan without name or clear origin lives on a farm and dreams of honor, glory, and feats of bravery. Unfortunately, as Assistant Pig Keeper, he's in charge of Hen Wen, the oracular albino pig. Oh well. One day Hen Wen, indeed all the animals on the farm, flee blindly into the woods and poor Taran plunges after Hen Wen, promptly getting himself lost. Adventure leads on from here and many unexpected revelations are in Taran's path..
The world of The Book of Three is unfortunately (as I've just learned) more well known from the Disney movie The Black Cauldron which meshes the first two books in the five book series together. Unfortunate I say because Disney really screwed it up making it watered down and bland, including the obligatory dead pet (which isn't in the book, by the way) and taking away a great deal of its inherent intelligence. This might seem harsh but if you read the books you'll understand my distaste.
Now that I'm done expressing my outrage: Alexander based his world loosely on welsh folklore and it creates a very interesting back drop. Taran is a believable young man although impulsive in a way I cannot myself relate too very well. The rest of the characters are very colorfully written although, at this stage, more caricatures than characters. One gets the sense that the over all arch of the series is a basic coming of age story. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Recommended to most adults as a fun quick read, kids for a good look at messing up and growing because of it, and anyone who's seen that abomnible movie to correct the damage.
Rating: 3
Taran, an orphan without name or clear origin lives on a farm and dreams of honor, glory, and feats of bravery. Unfortunately, as Assistant Pig Keeper, he's in charge of Hen Wen, the oracular albino pig. Oh well. One day Hen Wen, indeed all the animals on the farm, flee blindly into the woods and poor Taran plunges after Hen Wen, promptly getting himself lost. Adventure leads on from here and many unexpected revelations are in Taran's path..
The world of The Book of Three is unfortunately (as I've just learned) more well known from the Disney movie The Black Cauldron which meshes the first two books in the five book series together. Unfortunate I say because Disney really screwed it up making it watered down and bland, including the obligatory dead pet (which isn't in the book, by the way) and taking away a great deal of its inherent intelligence. This might seem harsh but if you read the books you'll understand my distaste.
Now that I'm done expressing my outrage: Alexander based his world loosely on welsh folklore and it creates a very interesting back drop. Taran is a believable young man although impulsive in a way I cannot myself relate too very well. The rest of the characters are very colorfully written although, at this stage, more caricatures than characters. One gets the sense that the over all arch of the series is a basic coming of age story. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Recommended to most adults as a fun quick read, kids for a good look at messing up and growing because of it, and anyone who's seen that abomnible movie to correct the damage.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
37. Jurassic Park
by Michael Crichton (399 pgs)
Rating: 3
Dinosaurs are cool. All kids love dinosaurs. Parents spend thousands on taking their kids to theme parks. Ergo, a theme park with real dinosaurs is a good idea...right? No, of course not, this is a Crichton book after all. Something must go terribly wrong and it does when the dinosaurs start defying the precautions the park builders imposed on them.
So yeah. Jurassic Park is a much better book than it was a movie. The book is much darker and grim than the movie and I have to say Hammond's fate was gruesomely satisfying. Malcolm, of course, has the best lines. I really related to what he had to say about intelligence. The writing was pretty good and the main characters were well done. The cast of supporting characters tended to blend together and that was a bit irritating. Also, the chaos theory sub line was clumsily handled. I remember reading this when I was twelve and going, 'why the hell is chaos theory in here, this makes no sense.' I get it now but It's a little to obtruse.
Recommended for planes, dino nuts, and sci fi enthusiasts.
Rating: 3
Dinosaurs are cool. All kids love dinosaurs. Parents spend thousands on taking their kids to theme parks. Ergo, a theme park with real dinosaurs is a good idea...right? No, of course not, this is a Crichton book after all. Something must go terribly wrong and it does when the dinosaurs start defying the precautions the park builders imposed on them.
So yeah. Jurassic Park is a much better book than it was a movie. The book is much darker and grim than the movie and I have to say Hammond's fate was gruesomely satisfying. Malcolm, of course, has the best lines. I really related to what he had to say about intelligence. The writing was pretty good and the main characters were well done. The cast of supporting characters tended to blend together and that was a bit irritating. Also, the chaos theory sub line was clumsily handled. I remember reading this when I was twelve and going, 'why the hell is chaos theory in here, this makes no sense.' I get it now but It's a little to obtruse.
Recommended for planes, dino nuts, and sci fi enthusiasts.
Monday, May 22, 2006
List 5: Ryan L's List
Source: Ryan L. (Friend's List)
I realized a problem with my set-up. Here I am reading all these books off of booklists and telling my friends about them. Their natural reaction is to start recommending books which because of my 'process' I have a hard time getting around to reading (it has been suggested that I may be a little OCD in this regard). To get around this, I'm going to start posting my friend's lists and reading from them as well and I already have three. This first one, the longest, is from Ryan L. my long time friend.
If you are reading this and want to hand me a list just email me if you have my email addie or reply to a post and ask for it.
1. The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander
2. The Black Cauldron, Lloyd Alexander
3. The Castle of Llyr, Lloyd Alexander
4. Taran Wanderer, Lloyd Alexander
5. The High King, Lloyd Alexander
6. Shogun, James Clavell
7. King Rat, James Clavell
8. Florida Roadkill, Tim Dorsey
9. Hammerhead Ranch Motel, Tim Dorsey
10. Tourist Season, Carl Hiaasen
11. Double Whammy, Carl Hiaasen
12. Swan Song, Robert R. McCammon
13. Stinger, Robert R. McCammon
14. The Wolf's Hour, Robert R. McCammon
15. Boy's Life, Robert R. McCammon
16. Sewer, Gas, & Electric, Matt Ruff
17. Set This House in Order, Matt Ruff
18. Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
19. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Kurt Vonnegut
20. Slaughterhouse V, Kurt Vonnegut
21. Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
22. Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh
23. The Tomb, F. Paul Wilson
24. Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
25. The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
26. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
27. Syrup, Maxx Barry
I realized a problem with my set-up. Here I am reading all these books off of booklists and telling my friends about them. Their natural reaction is to start recommending books which because of my 'process' I have a hard time getting around to reading (it has been suggested that I may be a little OCD in this regard). To get around this, I'm going to start posting my friend's lists and reading from them as well and I already have three. This first one, the longest, is from Ryan L. my long time friend.
If you are reading this and want to hand me a list just email me if you have my email addie or reply to a post and ask for it.
1. The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander
2. The Black Cauldron, Lloyd Alexander
3. The Castle of Llyr, Lloyd Alexander
4. Taran Wanderer, Lloyd Alexander
5. The High King, Lloyd Alexander
6. Shogun, James Clavell
7. King Rat, James Clavell
8. Florida Roadkill, Tim Dorsey
9. Hammerhead Ranch Motel, Tim Dorsey
10. Tourist Season, Carl Hiaasen
11. Double Whammy, Carl Hiaasen
12. Swan Song, Robert R. McCammon
13. Stinger, Robert R. McCammon
14. The Wolf's Hour, Robert R. McCammon
15. Boy's Life, Robert R. McCammon
16. Sewer, Gas, & Electric, Matt Ruff
17. Set This House in Order, Matt Ruff
18. Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
19. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Kurt Vonnegut
20. Slaughterhouse V, Kurt Vonnegut
21. Breakfast of Champions, Kurt Vonnegut
22. Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh
23. The Tomb, F. Paul Wilson
24. Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson
25. The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
26. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
27. Syrup, Maxx Barry
36. Set This House In Order
by Matt Ruff (478 pgs)
Rating: 5
Andy is 26, Andrew is about 24 years younger. Andrew is the name of one of about two dozen personalities that inhabit Andy's body. In the beginning, Andrew is a fairly stable individual, all be it suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. However, over the course of the book, it becomes evident that many issues have been left unresolved leaving cracks in his stability.
I found Set This House In Order chilling at times, warm at times, and provocative always. I'm not sure how accurate it is when it comes to the experience of multiple personality disorder, but I did get into the idea of how having lots of people in your head would work. Ruff is insightful and tender. He turns an un-blinking eye to the types of trauma that causes MPD and realistically portrays the kinds of confusion and turmoil inherent in an MPD's life. Instead of being demeaning, he managed to empower the two main characters of the novel as they took charge of their illness and wrestled with the metaphysical/spiritual issues. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really like this book.
Recommended to everyone, but particularly psychologist or anyone curious about issues of mental health.
Rating: 5
Andy is 26, Andrew is about 24 years younger. Andrew is the name of one of about two dozen personalities that inhabit Andy's body. In the beginning, Andrew is a fairly stable individual, all be it suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. However, over the course of the book, it becomes evident that many issues have been left unresolved leaving cracks in his stability.
I found Set This House In Order chilling at times, warm at times, and provocative always. I'm not sure how accurate it is when it comes to the experience of multiple personality disorder, but I did get into the idea of how having lots of people in your head would work. Ruff is insightful and tender. He turns an un-blinking eye to the types of trauma that causes MPD and realistically portrays the kinds of confusion and turmoil inherent in an MPD's life. Instead of being demeaning, he managed to empower the two main characters of the novel as they took charge of their illness and wrestled with the metaphysical/spiritual issues. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I really like this book.
Recommended to everyone, but particularly psychologist or anyone curious about issues of mental health.
List 4: Mothers and Daughters
Source: Book Lust page 159
By way of a late-ish (I've been working on getting it together since before Mother's Day) Mother's Day present I'm doing a short list completely centered around mothers and their daughters. Incidentally mom, start checking for a box in about 5 days.
These are all books about relationships, both good and bad, between mothers and daughters. I know nothing about these authors and you would not believe some of the places I had to go to find them (I'm going to be sneezing for weeks.) Hopefully Mom and I will discover them together.
I love you Mom.
1. The Odd Woman by Gail Godwin
2. A Mother and Two Daughters by Gail Godwin
3. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
4. Anywhere But Here by Mona Simpson
5. Charms for an Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
6. True Confessions by Mary Bringle
By way of a late-ish (I've been working on getting it together since before Mother's Day) Mother's Day present I'm doing a short list completely centered around mothers and their daughters. Incidentally mom, start checking for a box in about 5 days.
These are all books about relationships, both good and bad, between mothers and daughters. I know nothing about these authors and you would not believe some of the places I had to go to find them (I'm going to be sneezing for weeks.) Hopefully Mom and I will discover them together.
I love you Mom.
1. The Odd Woman by Gail Godwin
2. A Mother and Two Daughters by Gail Godwin
3. Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
4. Anywhere But Here by Mona Simpson
5. Charms for an Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
6. True Confessions by Mary Bringle
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Review of List 1: Connie Willis: Too Good To Miss
It's time, finally time, to do a list review. I bet y'all thought I'd forgotten mwahahahahahaha. *ahem* *cough* However, since this is not really a thematic list in the first place, I imagine that this review will be somewhat different from reviews I cobble together in the future.
Looking back over the list, I have to say that I enjoyed every book on there. I haven't managed to find a copy of Firewatch in any of my local libraries so I will probably break down and buy myself a copy but I feel that I can assess it as a list at this point.
I think when Pearl put this list together she just listed every novel and collection of short stories available at the time. As a living author this list is bound to grow. For a complete bibliography of Connie Willis' works click here. I think the important thing to say is that Willis is brilliant. She explores interesting concepts and it truly feels like much of her fiction spirals out of a 'what if' kind of question. The other thing to say is that, despite apparent subject matter, Willis books are not easy reads. I would not recommend reading her works rapidly and back to back the way I did. Eventually, it gets hard to continue reading even though the writing is not suffering and the plots are not less interesting.
It's hard for me to pick a favorite from this list so let me pick a couple.
Favorite:
Willis book over all: Doomsday Book - I simply couldn't put it down.
Fantasy: Water Witch
Piece of speculative fiction:Bellwether closely followed by Lincoln's Dreams
Short story: Even the Queen (Impossible Things)
Looking back over the list, I have to say that I enjoyed every book on there. I haven't managed to find a copy of Firewatch in any of my local libraries so I will probably break down and buy myself a copy but I feel that I can assess it as a list at this point.
I think when Pearl put this list together she just listed every novel and collection of short stories available at the time. As a living author this list is bound to grow. For a complete bibliography of Connie Willis' works click here. I think the important thing to say is that Willis is brilliant. She explores interesting concepts and it truly feels like much of her fiction spirals out of a 'what if' kind of question. The other thing to say is that, despite apparent subject matter, Willis books are not easy reads. I would not recommend reading her works rapidly and back to back the way I did. Eventually, it gets hard to continue reading even though the writing is not suffering and the plots are not less interesting.
It's hard for me to pick a favorite from this list so let me pick a couple.
Favorite:
Willis book over all: Doomsday Book - I simply couldn't put it down.
Fantasy: Water Witch
Piece of speculative fiction:Bellwether closely followed by Lincoln's Dreams
Short story: Even the Queen (Impossible Things)
Monday, May 15, 2006
35. To Say Nothing of the Dog
by Connie Willis (493 pgs)
Rating: 4
Ned is an overworked time traveler in need of a vacation. Too many trips in a short time have given him something like nitrogen narcosis and, in a fit of good timing, the boss needs some one to ferry a package to the Victorian era and they send Ned who can, while he's there, get some much needed rest. Unfortunately for Ned, he can't remember his instructions, what the package is, that he even has a package, or what he's supposed to do now that he's in Victorian England. This really is something of a problem and it gets worse as his presence seems to be creating more and more incongruencies in the timeline.
Set in the same world as Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog is a much lighter story about time travel and the things that can go wrong. Instead of the Middle ages, this story is set in Victorian England. It's a far more lighthearted look at time travel than Doomsday Book but there is an underlying issue that is looked at soberly. I'm glad that I read Three Men in a Boat first, Willis references it frequently and having just read it, I did appreciate the humor.
Generally recommended but be willing to be a little patient. It's a long long book.
Rating: 4
Ned is an overworked time traveler in need of a vacation. Too many trips in a short time have given him something like nitrogen narcosis and, in a fit of good timing, the boss needs some one to ferry a package to the Victorian era and they send Ned who can, while he's there, get some much needed rest. Unfortunately for Ned, he can't remember his instructions, what the package is, that he even has a package, or what he's supposed to do now that he's in Victorian England. This really is something of a problem and it gets worse as his presence seems to be creating more and more incongruencies in the timeline.
Set in the same world as Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog is a much lighter story about time travel and the things that can go wrong. Instead of the Middle ages, this story is set in Victorian England. It's a far more lighthearted look at time travel than Doomsday Book but there is an underlying issue that is looked at soberly. I'm glad that I read Three Men in a Boat first, Willis references it frequently and having just read it, I did appreciate the humor.
Generally recommended but be willing to be a little patient. It's a long long book.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
34. Castle Roogna
by Piers Anthony(329 pgs)
Rating: 5
Dor, son of Bink and Chameleon, is now 12 and beginning to notice certain...things...about women. He's being groomed as the next king of Xanth and feels a certain angst about his relationships with other children. He consults King Trent who sends him on a quest to get a restorative potion for Millie the once ghost's love, the zombie Jonathan. (read The Source of Magic for the full back story) Because of his new awareness of women, this whole quest is problematic for the adolescent but undertakes the quest anyway. The major problem is the potion of restoration only exists in the past causing Dor to time travel 800 years in Xanth's past to find the remedy for his adolescent crush's undead love.
Castle Roogna surprised me delightfully. I think I missed this one when I was reading the series as a kid. It is essentially a coming of age story but I found it uncharacteristically touching and involving. The story, itself, was quite strong and Dor was extremely well fleshed out. He grew noticeably as a person throughout the story and I found that many of his self doubts were familiar. His internal monologue was reminiscent of things I say or have said to myself. In addition, the character of Jumper the giant spider was very well done and intriguing and I noticed no unresolved loose ends. All in all, a superior Anthony novel and perhaps my new favorite in the series.
I recommend this to every kid (even adult-kids) who feels awkward...ever...about anything.
Rating: 5
Dor, son of Bink and Chameleon, is now 12 and beginning to notice certain...things...about women. He's being groomed as the next king of Xanth and feels a certain angst about his relationships with other children. He consults King Trent who sends him on a quest to get a restorative potion for Millie the once ghost's love, the zombie Jonathan. (read The Source of Magic for the full back story) Because of his new awareness of women, this whole quest is problematic for the adolescent but undertakes the quest anyway. The major problem is the potion of restoration only exists in the past causing Dor to time travel 800 years in Xanth's past to find the remedy for his adolescent crush's undead love.
Castle Roogna surprised me delightfully. I think I missed this one when I was reading the series as a kid. It is essentially a coming of age story but I found it uncharacteristically touching and involving. The story, itself, was quite strong and Dor was extremely well fleshed out. He grew noticeably as a person throughout the story and I found that many of his self doubts were familiar. His internal monologue was reminiscent of things I say or have said to myself. In addition, the character of Jumper the giant spider was very well done and intriguing and I noticed no unresolved loose ends. All in all, a superior Anthony novel and perhaps my new favorite in the series.
I recommend this to every kid (even adult-kids) who feels awkward...ever...about anything.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
33. The Source of Magic
by Piers Anthony (336 pgs)
Rating: 3
The second book in the Xanth series, Source of Magic continues to follow Bink as he is sent on a quest by King Trent to locate the source of all magic in Xanth. Not coincidently this happens while his wife is 9 months pregnant and very angry about it. He gathers up a host of characters and nearly destroys Xanth in the process.
the Xanth books are all basically fluff. Some of them are better than others. This is actually one of the better ones. The pace is good and the ever present puns don't get in the way too much. The character development was good and the somewhat convoluted resolution came off cleanly. All in all a fun read. There really isn't much to say about these books except that I would recommend them to kids between 10 and 15. They are enjoyable and indulge in language play which I feel is good for that age group.
Rating: 3
The second book in the Xanth series, Source of Magic continues to follow Bink as he is sent on a quest by King Trent to locate the source of all magic in Xanth. Not coincidently this happens while his wife is 9 months pregnant and very angry about it. He gathers up a host of characters and nearly destroys Xanth in the process.
the Xanth books are all basically fluff. Some of them are better than others. This is actually one of the better ones. The pace is good and the ever present puns don't get in the way too much. The character development was good and the somewhat convoluted resolution came off cleanly. All in all a fun read. There really isn't much to say about these books except that I would recommend them to kids between 10 and 15. They are enjoyable and indulge in language play which I feel is good for that age group.
32. The Left Hand of Darkness
By Ursula K. LeGuin (215 pgs)
Rating: 4
Genly Ai is a member of the Ekumen assigned to Winter as a kind of first contact specialist. His job is to live among the native inhabitants and lay a foundation for their entry into the interstellar sort of federation...or brotherhood maybe. In any case, Genly being what we think about as a typical human, physiologically speaking that is, is on a world with people who are potentially either/both genders and go through cycles of sexual readiness and are essentially non-sexed the rest of the time. This physiological fact has shaped their society and Genly quickly gets himself into trouble.
While not my favorite LeGuin book, The Left Hand of Darkness is one of my most loved science fiction books. When I was a teen I tried to read this book over and over and could not get past the first chapter. Eventually in college I had to read it for a creative seminar in science fiction and fantasy. Like many of LeGuin's books, The Left Hand of Darkness explores a number of fairly complicate questions. In this case concepts of gender, identity, and behavior take the fore. It's worth struggling through the beginning of the book. Aside from being a fantastic story it also contains interesting insights into why humans behave as they do and how language reinforces that.
I recommend this to all sci fi fans and anyone interested in gender identity issues.
Rating: 4
Genly Ai is a member of the Ekumen assigned to Winter as a kind of first contact specialist. His job is to live among the native inhabitants and lay a foundation for their entry into the interstellar sort of federation...or brotherhood maybe. In any case, Genly being what we think about as a typical human, physiologically speaking that is, is on a world with people who are potentially either/both genders and go through cycles of sexual readiness and are essentially non-sexed the rest of the time. This physiological fact has shaped their society and Genly quickly gets himself into trouble.
While not my favorite LeGuin book, The Left Hand of Darkness is one of my most loved science fiction books. When I was a teen I tried to read this book over and over and could not get past the first chapter. Eventually in college I had to read it for a creative seminar in science fiction and fantasy. Like many of LeGuin's books, The Left Hand of Darkness explores a number of fairly complicate questions. In this case concepts of gender, identity, and behavior take the fore. It's worth struggling through the beginning of the book. Aside from being a fantastic story it also contains interesting insights into why humans behave as they do and how language reinforces that.
I recommend this to all sci fi fans and anyone interested in gender identity issues.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
31. The Handmaid of Desire
by John L'Heureux (264 pgs)
Rating: 4
Olga: A semi-mysterious, semi-divine, semi-ruthless, and semi-kind character of undefined origins and with obscure goals. A literary theorist invited to teach at a California university for a semester and quickly ends up the puppet-master of the petty intrigues of the department. The persistent question of the book: is Olga a character in a book that we are reading or is she, in fact, the author writing from within the pages? Or perhaps she is simply a deluded and eccentric narrator. It's impossible to tell.
I have to admit, The Handmaid of Desire had me hooked in under 10 pages. The concept is inherently intriguing but the writing was easy to follow and flowed well supporting the bizarreness of the plot without intruding. Truly, a well written book. As far as content: I think the plot was interesting and a touch of magical realism made for a invigorating spice. In fact, I think without it, the plot would have come off as a bit drab. I am interested to read more of L'Heureux's books...and also possibly check out the creative writing program in Stanford.
Rating: 4
Olga: A semi-mysterious, semi-divine, semi-ruthless, and semi-kind character of undefined origins and with obscure goals. A literary theorist invited to teach at a California university for a semester and quickly ends up the puppet-master of the petty intrigues of the department. The persistent question of the book: is Olga a character in a book that we are reading or is she, in fact, the author writing from within the pages? Or perhaps she is simply a deluded and eccentric narrator. It's impossible to tell.
I have to admit, The Handmaid of Desire had me hooked in under 10 pages. The concept is inherently intriguing but the writing was easy to follow and flowed well supporting the bizarreness of the plot without intruding. Truly, a well written book. As far as content: I think the plot was interesting and a touch of magical realism made for a invigorating spice. In fact, I think without it, the plot would have come off as a bit drab. I am interested to read more of L'Heureux's books...and also possibly check out the creative writing program in Stanford.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
30. Foundation and Empire
by Isaac Asimov (234 pages)
Rating: 3
Two more installments in the Foundation Odyssey. The first, an ambitious general from the defunct empire makes a stab at reannexing Foundation through military might. Predictably Foundation pulls through. The second, is the first hint of real trouble. The introduction of a mutant fouls up the Seldon plan causing all sorts of havoc including a rush to the old imperial archives.
I think the momentum is failing. Yes. I think that's the problem with Foundation and Empire. It was still enjoyable but definitely was a bit laggy on the action. The big surprise in the second half was obvious to me nearly two chapters in.
I wouldn't bother with it unless you enjoyed the first book.
Rating: 3
Two more installments in the Foundation Odyssey. The first, an ambitious general from the defunct empire makes a stab at reannexing Foundation through military might. Predictably Foundation pulls through. The second, is the first hint of real trouble. The introduction of a mutant fouls up the Seldon plan causing all sorts of havoc including a rush to the old imperial archives.
I think the momentum is failing. Yes. I think that's the problem with Foundation and Empire. It was still enjoyable but definitely was a bit laggy on the action. The big surprise in the second half was obvious to me nearly two chapters in.
I wouldn't bother with it unless you enjoyed the first book.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
29. Carrie
by Stephen King (174 pgs)
Rating: 3
Carrie is the misunderstood butt of the high school. At 16 she doesn't know what menstration is and for some reason weird stuff always happens around her. Her overbearing zealot of a mother cows her into self loathing. So when Carrie get's invited to the prom by the most popular boy at school all hell breaks loose.
Reading this book almost makes me wish that I'd never seen the movie. I'm not the biggest King fan but I must admit: This book made my skin crawl. The way it's written is highly effective at keeping the reader off balance and the multiple points of view make the suspention of disbelief a little easier.
Recommended for horror fans
Rating: 3
Carrie is the misunderstood butt of the high school. At 16 she doesn't know what menstration is and for some reason weird stuff always happens around her. Her overbearing zealot of a mother cows her into self loathing. So when Carrie get's invited to the prom by the most popular boy at school all hell breaks loose.
Reading this book almost makes me wish that I'd never seen the movie. I'm not the biggest King fan but I must admit: This book made my skin crawl. The way it's written is highly effective at keeping the reader off balance and the multiple points of view make the suspention of disbelief a little easier.
Recommended for horror fans
28. Passage
by Connie Willis (594 pgs)
Rating: 5
Joanna is a researcher studying and chronicling Near Death Experiences (NDEs)as scientifically as possible. Richard is a neurobiologist who's found a way to stimulated the brain into entering the NDE state by use of a drug. They team up to find out what the biological cause and function of NDEs is. This is all complicated by a sensationalist evangelical new waver named Mandrake, a labranthine hospital, and contaminated test subjects. When Joanna starts undergoing the tests as well, she finds herself on the Titanic...or does she?
It took me almost 3 months of reading, on and off, but finally I've finished it. We're back to the concept of speculative fiction, I guess. I would call Passage Sci-Fi maybe. But sci-fi has come to mean wookies and zap guns. Not that I have anything against either, but it would be a misrepresentation of this book. Much of it was about neuro-transmitters in the brain. There's a historical-fiction aspect of it in the importance the Titanic plays in the plot but even though it is important it's still tangential. I think the importance of this book is the philosophical aspects about death and grieving. There's a message there that touched me deep down and that I won't forget.
Recommended to anyone curious about death and to research scientists who I feel will appreciate some of the humor.
Rating: 5
Joanna is a researcher studying and chronicling Near Death Experiences (NDEs)as scientifically as possible. Richard is a neurobiologist who's found a way to stimulated the brain into entering the NDE state by use of a drug. They team up to find out what the biological cause and function of NDEs is. This is all complicated by a sensationalist evangelical new waver named Mandrake, a labranthine hospital, and contaminated test subjects. When Joanna starts undergoing the tests as well, she finds herself on the Titanic...or does she?
It took me almost 3 months of reading, on and off, but finally I've finished it. We're back to the concept of speculative fiction, I guess. I would call Passage Sci-Fi maybe. But sci-fi has come to mean wookies and zap guns. Not that I have anything against either, but it would be a misrepresentation of this book. Much of it was about neuro-transmitters in the brain. There's a historical-fiction aspect of it in the importance the Titanic plays in the plot but even though it is important it's still tangential. I think the importance of this book is the philosophical aspects about death and grieving. There's a message there that touched me deep down and that I won't forget.
Recommended to anyone curious about death and to research scientists who I feel will appreciate some of the humor.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
27. Foundation
by Isaac Asimov (236 pgs)
Rating: 3
The time of the Galactic civilization is ending. Progress has receded to stagnation and backslide into mysticism. The empire fails. A psychohistorian has the foresight to create two outposts of scientific advancement. This book follows Foundation over the course of about 200 years and 3 'Seldon crises.'
Asimov is an interesting writer. I've heard it complained that this is a boring book and I certainly had a hard time getting into it as a kid. However, it's not boring, just very very slow. The premise of mathematical predication of vast social movements is an interesting one although I have a problem with the term 'psychohistory.' It is a good exploration of the problems of a galactic empire.
Recommended to Science Fiction fans, this is something that should be read for the sake of the genre.
Rating: 3
The time of the Galactic civilization is ending. Progress has receded to stagnation and backslide into mysticism. The empire fails. A psychohistorian has the foresight to create two outposts of scientific advancement. This book follows Foundation over the course of about 200 years and 3 'Seldon crises.'
Asimov is an interesting writer. I've heard it complained that this is a boring book and I certainly had a hard time getting into it as a kid. However, it's not boring, just very very slow. The premise of mathematical predication of vast social movements is an interesting one although I have a problem with the term 'psychohistory.' It is a good exploration of the problems of a galactic empire.
Recommended to Science Fiction fans, this is something that should be read for the sake of the genre.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
26. The Haunting of Hill House
by Shirley Jackson (246 pgs)
Rating: 4
Two young women, a antropologist, and a young man understake to spend a summer at the infamously haunted Hill House. Elenor is a young woman suddenly in possetion of her own life since her aged mother died. Theodora is a somewhat eccentric artist. Dr. Montague is an anthropologist, sort of, but really a researcher on the paranormal. Luke is a scalywag who is invited because Hill House belongs to his family. All four of them are there to challange the house and determine the truth of the rumors.
The Haunting of Hill House is perhaps Jackson's most well known novel. Mainly due to the fact that it's been made over into a movie at least twice I believe. The last time was in the 90's and was somewhat regretable. In any case, the book is technically fascinating. Throughout, it gives very reasonable technical explinations of the effects in Hill House while at the same time giving the idea that it is truely haunted. It's a very creepy book.
Recommended to all who enjoy a good ghost story...just don't watch the movie first.
Rating: 4
Two young women, a antropologist, and a young man understake to spend a summer at the infamously haunted Hill House. Elenor is a young woman suddenly in possetion of her own life since her aged mother died. Theodora is a somewhat eccentric artist. Dr. Montague is an anthropologist, sort of, but really a researcher on the paranormal. Luke is a scalywag who is invited because Hill House belongs to his family. All four of them are there to challange the house and determine the truth of the rumors.
The Haunting of Hill House is perhaps Jackson's most well known novel. Mainly due to the fact that it's been made over into a movie at least twice I believe. The last time was in the 90's and was somewhat regretable. In any case, the book is technically fascinating. Throughout, it gives very reasonable technical explinations of the effects in Hill House while at the same time giving the idea that it is truely haunted. It's a very creepy book.
Recommended to all who enjoy a good ghost story...just don't watch the movie first.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
25. We Have Always Lived in the Castle
by Shirley Jackson (214 pages)
Rating: 4
Mary Elizabeth and Constance, along with senile uncle Julian, are the only surviving members of the Blackwood family. The rest of the family died under somewhat mysterious circumstances which implicate Constance, although she's been acquitted. Together, Mary Elizabeth and Constance live out their lives in a routine way hiding from the nearby villagers who hate them. And then cousin Charles comes and things begin to change.
I might not call We Have Always Lived in the Castle horror per se. I would certainly describe it as chilling or disturbing. I can't really see it fitting well in any other genre, so I suppose horror will do. In any case, Jackson does a wonderful job of building a believably creepy person. However, as is the case with most of her novels, it was a little slow.
I recommend it for a somewhat disturbing read.
Rating: 4
Mary Elizabeth and Constance, along with senile uncle Julian, are the only surviving members of the Blackwood family. The rest of the family died under somewhat mysterious circumstances which implicate Constance, although she's been acquitted. Together, Mary Elizabeth and Constance live out their lives in a routine way hiding from the nearby villagers who hate them. And then cousin Charles comes and things begin to change.
I might not call We Have Always Lived in the Castle horror per se. I would certainly describe it as chilling or disturbing. I can't really see it fitting well in any other genre, so I suppose horror will do. In any case, Jackson does a wonderful job of building a believably creepy person. However, as is the case with most of her novels, it was a little slow.
I recommend it for a somewhat disturbing read.
Monday, March 06, 2006
24. Demons Don't Dream
by Piers Anthony (340 pgs)
Rating: 3
Two mundane kids, Dug and Kim, get to wander around Xanth by virtue of a computer game. What they aren't told though is that they are actually pawns in a larger game to decide the fate of Xanth.
Reading Demons Don't Dream was skipping a ton of material in the series that I probably needed to have to really enjoy this one. Generally speaking I don't think it much matters what order you read these books in but this one needs to be towards the end I think. In any case, it was cute. There was a lot of groaning at the puns and I think Anthony pegged what a mundane kid would think of Xanth if they'd never heard of it before.
It's worth reading if you have a free afternoon.
Rating: 3
Two mundane kids, Dug and Kim, get to wander around Xanth by virtue of a computer game. What they aren't told though is that they are actually pawns in a larger game to decide the fate of Xanth.
Reading Demons Don't Dream was skipping a ton of material in the series that I probably needed to have to really enjoy this one. Generally speaking I don't think it much matters what order you read these books in but this one needs to be towards the end I think. In any case, it was cute. There was a lot of groaning at the puns and I think Anthony pegged what a mundane kid would think of Xanth if they'd never heard of it before.
It's worth reading if you have a free afternoon.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
23. Changing Places: A Tale of Two Campuses
by David Lodge (251 pgs)
Rating: 4
Philip Swallow and Morris Zapp are English professors who exchange places for a term. Zapp goes to England and Swallow comes to America. The story is set in 1969 and amid the beginnings of feminism and anti war activism, Swallow discovers a life more pleasant. Zapp finds his training as a ruthless American academic puts him in the perfect place to help the poor little English university expand and grow. Both of them find they like the other's life...better.
I want to go on the record as saying this is a strange book and my rating may change after I have more time to think about it. Whether it goes up or down is something I have no answer for.
Changing Places is meant to be a satire. It is poking at the lifestyle of the academic communities in both Britain and the U.S. making out neither to be particularly better than the other. It pokes at U.S. history surrounding Viet Nam, the sexual revolution, and woman's liberation movements. Also, it pokes at the British post-colonialism attitudes. I know just enough about all of these to identify that they are being satirized but not quite enough to really appreciate them. All except the lifestyle of the literature academic in the U.S. and that's debatable. I do know plot wise, this is a fascinating book. Something like watching a train wreck.
Structurally, there is some interesting things going on and a disturbing awareness in the text of it. The book is broken unevenly into 6 sections. The voice in the first section is third person omniscient distanced narrator. In the second and fifth section it's a more conventional third person non-distanced voice. The third section is epistolary, the forth is news clippings, and the sixth section is a teleplay. An example of what I mean about disturbing awareness can be found on page 130 deep in the epistolary section a character writes, 'There's a whole chapter on how to write an epistolary novel, but surely nobody's done that since the eighteenth century?' It's clever in a gentle sort of way but it happens through out.
In any case, I'd recommend this to anyone in academia and those who consider themselves 'serious readers.'
Rating: 4
Philip Swallow and Morris Zapp are English professors who exchange places for a term. Zapp goes to England and Swallow comes to America. The story is set in 1969 and amid the beginnings of feminism and anti war activism, Swallow discovers a life more pleasant. Zapp finds his training as a ruthless American academic puts him in the perfect place to help the poor little English university expand and grow. Both of them find they like the other's life...better.
I want to go on the record as saying this is a strange book and my rating may change after I have more time to think about it. Whether it goes up or down is something I have no answer for.
Changing Places is meant to be a satire. It is poking at the lifestyle of the academic communities in both Britain and the U.S. making out neither to be particularly better than the other. It pokes at U.S. history surrounding Viet Nam, the sexual revolution, and woman's liberation movements. Also, it pokes at the British post-colonialism attitudes. I know just enough about all of these to identify that they are being satirized but not quite enough to really appreciate them. All except the lifestyle of the literature academic in the U.S. and that's debatable. I do know plot wise, this is a fascinating book. Something like watching a train wreck.
Structurally, there is some interesting things going on and a disturbing awareness in the text of it. The book is broken unevenly into 6 sections. The voice in the first section is third person omniscient distanced narrator. In the second and fifth section it's a more conventional third person non-distanced voice. The third section is epistolary, the forth is news clippings, and the sixth section is a teleplay. An example of what I mean about disturbing awareness can be found on page 130 deep in the epistolary section a character writes, 'There's a whole chapter on how to write an epistolary novel, but surely nobody's done that since the eighteenth century?' It's clever in a gentle sort of way but it happens through out.
In any case, I'd recommend this to anyone in academia and those who consider themselves 'serious readers.'
Friday, March 03, 2006
List 3: Academia: The Joke
Source: Book Lust page 3
In celebration of me leaving my job behind I've decided to read humerous fiction about academia. It didn't occur to me that there would be enough material out there to support this list but on reflection it makes considerably more sense. After all, academics tend to be highly literate people and highly literate people are more likely to write books and people tend to write about what they know....in this case academia. (run on sentance I know) In any case, I haven't heard of any of these authors so it'll be an adventure.
1. Pictures from an Institution by Randall Jarrell
2. The Groves of Academe by Mary McCarthy
3. Moo by Jane Smiley
4. Japanese by Spring by Ishmael Reed
5. The Handmaid of Desire by John L'Heureux
6. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
David Lodge
7. Changing Places: A Tale of Two Campuses
8. Small World: An Academic Romance
9. Nice Work
Malcolm Bradbury
10. Eating People Is Wrong
11. Stepping Westward
12. The History Man
13. Rates of Exchange
14. To the Hermitage
In celebration of me leaving my job behind I've decided to read humerous fiction about academia. It didn't occur to me that there would be enough material out there to support this list but on reflection it makes considerably more sense. After all, academics tend to be highly literate people and highly literate people are more likely to write books and people tend to write about what they know....in this case academia. (run on sentance I know) In any case, I haven't heard of any of these authors so it'll be an adventure.
1. Pictures from an Institution by Randall Jarrell
2. The Groves of Academe by Mary McCarthy
3. Moo by Jane Smiley
4. Japanese by Spring by Ishmael Reed
5. The Handmaid of Desire by John L'Heureux
6. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis
David Lodge
7. Changing Places: A Tale of Two Campuses
8. Small World: An Academic Romance
9. Nice Work
Malcolm Bradbury
10. Eating People Is Wrong
11. Stepping Westward
12. The History Man
13. Rates of Exchange
14. To the Hermitage
22. A Spell for Chameleon
By Piers Anthony (344 pgs)
Rating: 4
Bink is a man in a land of magic with no apparent magic of his own. Unfortunately the law is that those with out any kind of magic talent at all must be exile to the dreaded and drear Mundania. Through much adventure, Bink learns that he has a talent but no one can identify what it is.
I read A Spell For Chameleon this when I was in Jr. High and remembered almost none of the plot when I picked it up to re-read it. I have to admit, the love story was much more touching, the characters much more interesting, and the writing much tighter than I remembered it.
Anyone who likes light-hearted fantasy or Douglas Adams would probably appreciate this book.
Rating: 4
Bink is a man in a land of magic with no apparent magic of his own. Unfortunately the law is that those with out any kind of magic talent at all must be exile to the dreaded and drear Mundania. Through much adventure, Bink learns that he has a talent but no one can identify what it is.
I read A Spell For Chameleon this when I was in Jr. High and remembered almost none of the plot when I picked it up to re-read it. I have to admit, the love story was much more touching, the characters much more interesting, and the writing much tighter than I remembered it.
Anyone who likes light-hearted fantasy or Douglas Adams would probably appreciate this book.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
21. Prince of Chaos
by Roger Zelazny (241 pgs)
Merle is suddenly whisked away to the Courts Chaos and informed that with the king dead, he's suddenly in line for the throne. Unfortunately, he doesn't want it. Perhaps even more unfortunately...it's obvious that there are forces out there that want him to have it.
Apparently Prince of Chaos is meant to be the end of the series. I came away from with many more questions and a sense of incompletion. It seemed very much that this is a set up for a new series which of course will never come...at least not from Zelazny's pen.
It was a good read. Definitely worth it if you've read everything leading up to it.
Merle is suddenly whisked away to the Courts Chaos and informed that with the king dead, he's suddenly in line for the throne. Unfortunately, he doesn't want it. Perhaps even more unfortunately...it's obvious that there are forces out there that want him to have it.
Apparently Prince of Chaos is meant to be the end of the series. I came away from with many more questions and a sense of incompletion. It seemed very much that this is a set up for a new series which of course will never come...at least not from Zelazny's pen.
It was a good read. Definitely worth it if you've read everything leading up to it.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
20. Knight of Chaos
by Roger Zelazny (251 pgs)
Rating: 4
Merle and Jasra start the Knight of Shadows off as allies. Go figure. If you haven't read the previous books that's not going to make a lot of sense...but it is, in fact, a strange turn of events. Merle's brother Mandor is introduced. Things between the Pattern and Logrus get more strained. There is a continuation of a whole mess of plot lines that could just be dropped but the book is enjoyable in a day time soap opera kinda way.
Rating: 4
Merle and Jasra start the Knight of Shadows off as allies. Go figure. If you haven't read the previous books that's not going to make a lot of sense...but it is, in fact, a strange turn of events. Merle's brother Mandor is introduced. Things between the Pattern and Logrus get more strained. There is a continuation of a whole mess of plot lines that could just be dropped but the book is enjoyable in a day time soap opera kinda way.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
19. Sign of Chaos
by Roger Zelazny (217 pgs)
Rating: 4
Alice in Wonderland is a backdrop for a bad trip and the jabberwocky is a groovy till the snicker-snack of the fiery chaos angel come to visit.
K? Did that make any sense?
No?
Well get used to it....the first chapter is like that. Although after that things move pretty well and revelation at the end makes some of the confusion worth while. Definitely an improvement over the last two, Sign of Chaos was fun. It regained some of the luster of the first books and made me want to pick up the next right away.
Rating: 4
Alice in Wonderland is a backdrop for a bad trip and the jabberwocky is a groovy till the snicker-snack of the fiery chaos angel come to visit.
K? Did that make any sense?
No?
Well get used to it....the first chapter is like that. Although after that things move pretty well and revelation at the end makes some of the confusion worth while. Definitely an improvement over the last two, Sign of Chaos was fun. It regained some of the luster of the first books and made me want to pick up the next right away.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
18. Blood of Amber
by Roger Zelazny (215 pgs)
Rating: 3
Merle begins the book imprisoned in a cave of mysterious blue crystal. He quickly frees himself from that situation though and continues the quest to resolve the mystery involving one murdered girlfriend, a mysterious blue mist, and a college friend.
I found my attention wandering through Blood of Amber. I have a very hard time feeling emotionally invested in the main character. Perversely, Merle is a very attractive character who should be really interesting...yet he seems static. The events of the book were interesting and I'm intrigued about how it ended but I feel rather ambivalent about the book as a whole.
Rating: 3
Merle begins the book imprisoned in a cave of mysterious blue crystal. He quickly frees himself from that situation though and continues the quest to resolve the mystery involving one murdered girlfriend, a mysterious blue mist, and a college friend.
I found my attention wandering through Blood of Amber. I have a very hard time feeling emotionally invested in the main character. Perversely, Merle is a very attractive character who should be really interesting...yet he seems static. The events of the book were interesting and I'm intrigued about how it ended but I feel rather ambivalent about the book as a whole.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
17. Trumps of Doom
by Roger Zelazny (184 pgs)
Rating: 3
Merle (aka Merlin) Corey, son of Corwin prince of Amber, lives on the shadow earth that his father loved so and every April 30th someone takes a shot at ending his life. The grand mystery of the murder attempts is tangled up with family politics and something called the ghostwheel.
I'm not entirely sure why Trumps of Doom falls flat on me. It's fast paced, the premise is familiar, and the plot as plausible as any of the others. I guess it must be that the characters don't seem to develope any making it exceptionally plot driven. All the same it's good for a quick read.
I'd recommend this to anyone in love with the firs four books.
Rating: 3
Merle (aka Merlin) Corey, son of Corwin prince of Amber, lives on the shadow earth that his father loved so and every April 30th someone takes a shot at ending his life. The grand mystery of the murder attempts is tangled up with family politics and something called the ghostwheel.
I'm not entirely sure why Trumps of Doom falls flat on me. It's fast paced, the premise is familiar, and the plot as plausible as any of the others. I guess it must be that the characters don't seem to develope any making it exceptionally plot driven. All the same it's good for a quick read.
I'd recommend this to anyone in love with the firs four books.
Friday, February 24, 2006
16. Farmer Giles of Ham
by J.R.R. Tolkien (79 pgs)
Rating: 4
Farmer Giles is a practical sort living in a picturesque little village with a dog and his wife, Agatha. When he chases off a giant, everything begins to change and he soon finds himself chasing after a somewhat crafty dragon named Chrysophylax.
Farmer Giles of Ham is actually meant as a children's book. It's something of a fable about the difference between ordering things done and doing them yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't also a pot shot at the local nobility. Anyway, it's well written, amusing, and very very short. There really isn't an excuse not to read this.
Rating: 4
Farmer Giles is a practical sort living in a picturesque little village with a dog and his wife, Agatha. When he chases off a giant, everything begins to change and he soon finds himself chasing after a somewhat crafty dragon named Chrysophylax.
Farmer Giles of Ham is actually meant as a children's book. It's something of a fable about the difference between ordering things done and doing them yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't also a pot shot at the local nobility. Anyway, it's well written, amusing, and very very short. There really isn't an excuse not to read this.
15. The Courts of Chaos
by Roger Zelazny (142 pgs)
Rating: 4
Corwin struggles with his newly found sense of duty and his father both as the repairs to the pattern are finally undertaken. The cost is high and success is less than certain but with any luck Amber may be restored and Corwin, with the help of the Jewel of Judgement, will be able to preserve the family.
Perhaps the shortest book of them all, The Court of Chaos is a transition book. Interesting though it is in it's own right, the book basically serves the function of tying up the story with Corwin and his generation and introducing Merlin more fully as his son.
If you plan to continue with the series you have to read this book.
Rating: 4
Corwin struggles with his newly found sense of duty and his father both as the repairs to the pattern are finally undertaken. The cost is high and success is less than certain but with any luck Amber may be restored and Corwin, with the help of the Jewel of Judgement, will be able to preserve the family.
Perhaps the shortest book of them all, The Court of Chaos is a transition book. Interesting though it is in it's own right, the book basically serves the function of tying up the story with Corwin and his generation and introducing Merlin more fully as his son.
If you plan to continue with the series you have to read this book.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
14. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
by Gregory Maguire (406 pgs)
Rating: 3
Elphaba is a cursed child born with green skin and scary teeth. Someday she grows up to be the Wicked Witch of the West and troubles the life of Dorothy, a young hapless girl from Kansas. But this story only briefly meets up with Baum's classic. Instead, the book tracks the childhood and young adulthood of Elphaba and traces, ostensibly, how she came to be so very wicked.
I have mixed feelings about Wicked. On the one hand it's fairly well written, engaging, and develops the world of Oz splendidly. On the other hand, Maguire indulges on a fair bit of philosophizing and religious satire. Both of these things are acceptable given that Baum's original work is in many ways a satire of the contemporary political climate. Yet, some how it seemed ponderous.
I recommend this to Oz fans and people who like their armchair philosophy.
Rating: 3
Elphaba is a cursed child born with green skin and scary teeth. Someday she grows up to be the Wicked Witch of the West and troubles the life of Dorothy, a young hapless girl from Kansas. But this story only briefly meets up with Baum's classic. Instead, the book tracks the childhood and young adulthood of Elphaba and traces, ostensibly, how she came to be so very wicked.
I have mixed feelings about Wicked. On the one hand it's fairly well written, engaging, and develops the world of Oz splendidly. On the other hand, Maguire indulges on a fair bit of philosophizing and religious satire. Both of these things are acceptable given that Baum's original work is in many ways a satire of the contemporary political climate. Yet, some how it seemed ponderous.
I recommend this to Oz fans and people who like their armchair philosophy.
13. The Hand of Oberon
Roger Zelazny (188 pgs)
Rating: 4
Corwin opens the book standing near the source of it all and quickly proceeds through revelation to revelation. A sibling is found out as traitor and other siblings feel differently then they did. Much is broken and much is repaired including the appearance of a grandchild mentioned in the first book. The end is a surprise of identity.
The Hand of Oberon is the fourth book and the original completion of the series. I feel that it's just a touch too fast paced and that many of the revelations seem to come out of nowhere. The exposition on family politics is also a touch dry. Even so, it is an enjoyable book.
Rating: 4
Corwin opens the book standing near the source of it all and quickly proceeds through revelation to revelation. A sibling is found out as traitor and other siblings feel differently then they did. Much is broken and much is repaired including the appearance of a grandchild mentioned in the first book. The end is a surprise of identity.
The Hand of Oberon is the fourth book and the original completion of the series. I feel that it's just a touch too fast paced and that many of the revelations seem to come out of nowhere. The exposition on family politics is also a touch dry. Even so, it is an enjoyable book.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
12. The Sign of the Unicorn
by Roger Zelazny (192 pgs)
Rating: 4
Corwin, having succeeded in deposing Eric in the last novel, is now in the position of Amber's protector. As such he has much to be concerned about: the black road, a missing brother, and not least of all his own foggy recent history that he only knows pieces of. Many revelations and yet another cliff hanger.
Closer to the caliber of the first book, The Sign of the Unicorn is a much more introspective piece than either of the preceding novels. While not lacking in action, Zelazny almost seems to pause to tie together unresolved aspects of the first two novels and indulge in some necessary exposition about the setting/background. This is all skillfully done, however, and does not slow down the read much. In fact, it would almost be possible to read this book first and enjoy it alone.
I rather generally recommend this book even if the second left one a little cold.
Rating: 4
Corwin, having succeeded in deposing Eric in the last novel, is now in the position of Amber's protector. As such he has much to be concerned about: the black road, a missing brother, and not least of all his own foggy recent history that he only knows pieces of. Many revelations and yet another cliff hanger.
Closer to the caliber of the first book, The Sign of the Unicorn is a much more introspective piece than either of the preceding novels. While not lacking in action, Zelazny almost seems to pause to tie together unresolved aspects of the first two novels and indulge in some necessary exposition about the setting/background. This is all skillfully done, however, and does not slow down the read much. In fact, it would almost be possible to read this book first and enjoy it alone.
I rather generally recommend this book even if the second left one a little cold.
11. The Guns of Avalon
by Roger Zelazny (223 pgs)
Rating: 4
With his newly restored eyesight and freedom, Corwin sets out across shadow to find Avalon. His ultimate goal, as always, is the throne at Amber and through chance he's found the only chemical compound in shadow that will allow guns to function. Of course, capturing the throne means dealing with Eric and his other siblings but having guns may give him a bit of an edge. Above and beyond the sibling rivalry something sinister is growing that threatens shadow itself.
Sequel to Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon is the continuation of the power struggle and grand mystery. While highly enjoyable, Guns of Avalon is not as well written as the first book although it does end on a near cliff hanger.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first book.
Rating: 4
With his newly restored eyesight and freedom, Corwin sets out across shadow to find Avalon. His ultimate goal, as always, is the throne at Amber and through chance he's found the only chemical compound in shadow that will allow guns to function. Of course, capturing the throne means dealing with Eric and his other siblings but having guns may give him a bit of an edge. Above and beyond the sibling rivalry something sinister is growing that threatens shadow itself.
Sequel to Nine Princes in Amber, The Guns of Avalon is the continuation of the power struggle and grand mystery. While highly enjoyable, Guns of Avalon is not as well written as the first book although it does end on a near cliff hanger.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first book.
Monday, February 20, 2006
List 2: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
Book Lust pg 213
Pearl views Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror as more of a continuum than three separate genres. I tend to agree, although there are some things that are most definitely one or the other. In any case, this list is massive. Something over 200 books so I'm splitting it into three. There's one trilogy that Pearl points out as exemplifying the continuum which will stay here instead of breaking them up. Otherwise, everything will be under it's sublist.
Incidently, I think there's tons missing. If you have suggestions feel free to comment them under the most appropriate list.
Also, I plan to tackle smaller lists while I'm working on this one since I literally could spend the rest of the year at this one.
1. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
2. Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
3. That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
For ease of navigation:
List 2a: Science Fiction
List 2b: Fantasy
List 2c: Horror
Pearl views Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror as more of a continuum than three separate genres. I tend to agree, although there are some things that are most definitely one or the other. In any case, this list is massive. Something over 200 books so I'm splitting it into three. There's one trilogy that Pearl points out as exemplifying the continuum which will stay here instead of breaking them up. Otherwise, everything will be under it's sublist.
Incidently, I think there's tons missing. If you have suggestions feel free to comment them under the most appropriate list.
Also, I plan to tackle smaller lists while I'm working on this one since I literally could spend the rest of the year at this one.
1. Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
2. Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
3. That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
For ease of navigation:
List 2a: Science Fiction
List 2b: Fantasy
List 2c: Horror
List 2a: Science Fiction
Book Lust pg 213
Perhaps the largest problem with this list is that there is something about Science Fiction and Fantasy that lends itself to serialization. So in order to read one book of an author you find yourself obliged to read the sequel and the sequel's sequel which starts making for very large lists particularly when it's necessary to read 3 or 4 books in order to truly appreciate the story arc.
That being said...I don't much mind. In concept anyway. There's much on this list that I've read long ago and have been meaning to re-read and also that I've been meaning to read for quite some time. One of my favorite authors also appears on this list (Ursula K. LeGuin) although I'm not sure I would pick those particular books as her best science fiction...they are the most popular however.
Mary Doria Russell:
1. The Sparrow*
2. Children of God*
Orson Scott Card:
3. Ender's Game*
4. Speaker for the Dead*
5. Xenocide*
6. Children of the Mind*
7. Ender's Shadow*
8. Shadow of the Hegemon*
9. Shadow Puppets*
Isaac Asimov:
10. Foundation*
11. Foundation and Empire*
12. Second Foundation*
13. Prelude to Foundation*
14. Forward the Foundation*
15. Foundation's Edge*
16. Foundation and Earth*
Frederik Pohl:
17. Gateway*
18. Beyond the Blue Event Horizon*
19. Heechee Rendezvous*
20. The Annals of the Heechee*
Clifford Simak:
21. Shakespeare's Planet*
22. City*
23. Way Station*
24. Destiny Doll*
Roger Zelazny:
25. Nine Princes in Amber*
26. The Guns of Avalon
27. Sign of the Unicorn
28. The Hand of Oberon
29. The Courts of Chaos
30. Trumps of Doom
31. Blood of Amber
32. Sign of Chaos
33. Knight of Shadows
34. Prince of Chaos
Frank Herbert:
35. Dune*
36. Dune Messiah
37. Children of Dune
38. God Emperor of Dune
39. Heretics of Dune
40. Chapter House Dune
Ursula K. LeGuin:
41. The Left Hand of Darkness*
42. The Dispossessed*
43. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke*
44. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman*
Perhaps the largest problem with this list is that there is something about Science Fiction and Fantasy that lends itself to serialization. So in order to read one book of an author you find yourself obliged to read the sequel and the sequel's sequel which starts making for very large lists particularly when it's necessary to read 3 or 4 books in order to truly appreciate the story arc.
That being said...I don't much mind. In concept anyway. There's much on this list that I've read long ago and have been meaning to re-read and also that I've been meaning to read for quite some time. One of my favorite authors also appears on this list (Ursula K. LeGuin) although I'm not sure I would pick those particular books as her best science fiction...they are the most popular however.
Mary Doria Russell:
1. The Sparrow*
2. Children of God*
Orson Scott Card:
3. Ender's Game*
4. Speaker for the Dead*
5. Xenocide*
6. Children of the Mind*
7. Ender's Shadow*
8. Shadow of the Hegemon*
9. Shadow Puppets*
Isaac Asimov:
10. Foundation*
11. Foundation and Empire*
12. Second Foundation*
13. Prelude to Foundation*
14. Forward the Foundation*
15. Foundation's Edge*
16. Foundation and Earth*
Frederik Pohl:
17. Gateway*
18. Beyond the Blue Event Horizon*
19. Heechee Rendezvous*
20. The Annals of the Heechee*
Clifford Simak:
21. Shakespeare's Planet*
22. City*
23. Way Station*
24. Destiny Doll*
Roger Zelazny:
25. Nine Princes in Amber*
26. The Guns of Avalon
27. Sign of the Unicorn
28. The Hand of Oberon
29. The Courts of Chaos
30. Trumps of Doom
31. Blood of Amber
32. Sign of Chaos
33. Knight of Shadows
34. Prince of Chaos
Frank Herbert:
35. Dune*
36. Dune Messiah
37. Children of Dune
38. God Emperor of Dune
39. Heretics of Dune
40. Chapter House Dune
Ursula K. LeGuin:
41. The Left Hand of Darkness*
42. The Dispossessed*
43. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke*
44. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman*
List 2b. Fantasy
As I mentioned in the 2a, the habit of serialization has made this list massive. I think It would be prudent at this point to state that in the case of these large series (over 10)that may or may not be of a continuous plot line that I only commit to reading 2/3s of the books and only then if I am enjoying the author. Robert Jordan's on this list and I've never successfully gotten into his books. I'm going to give it another try but I make no promises or apologies.
J.R.R. Tolkien:
1. Farmer Giles of Ham*
2. The Hobbit*
3. The Fellowship of the Ring*
4. Two Towers*
5. The Return of the King*
Mervyn Peake:
6. Titus Groan*
7. Gormenghast*
8. Titus Alone*
Guy Gavriel Kay:
9. The Summer Tree*
10. The Wandering Fire*
11. The Darkest Road*
Robert Jordan:
12. They Eye of the World*
13. The Great Hunt*
14. The Dragon Reborn*
15. The Shadow Rising*
16. The Fires of Heaven*
17. Lord of Chaos*
18. A Crown of Swords*
19. The Path of Daggers*
20. Winter's Heart*
21. Crossroads of Twilight*
22. Knife of Dreams
Piers Anthony:
23. A Spell for Chameleon*
24. The Source of Magic
25. Castle Roogna
26. Centaur Isle
27. Ogre, Ogre
28. Night Mare
29. Dragon on a Pedestal
30. Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn*
31. Golem in the Gears
32. Vale of the Vole
33. Heaven Cent
34. Man From Mundania
35. Isle of View
36. Question Quest
37. The Color of Her Panties
38. Demons Don't Dream
39. Harpy Thyme
40. Geis of the Gargoyle
41. Roc and a Hard Place
42. Yon Ill Wind
43. Faun and Games
44. Zombie Lover
45. Xone of Contention
46. The Dastard
47. Swell Foop
48. Up in a Heavel*
49. Cube Route
50. Currant Events
51. Pet Peeve
Alan Dean Foster:
52. Spellsinger *
53. The Hour of the Gate
54. The Day of the Dissonance*
55. Moment of the Magician
56. The Path of the Peramublator
57. The Time of the Transference
58. Son of Spellsinger
59. Chorus Skating
Andre Norton
60. Witch World*
61. Web of the Witch World
62. Three Against the Witch World
63. Warlock of the Witch World
64. Sorceress of the Witch World
65. Trey of Swords
66. Ware Hawk
67. The Gate of the Cat
68. Ciara's Song
69. Year of the Unicorn
70. The Crystal Gryphon
71. Spell of the Witch World
72. The Jargoon Pard*
73. Zarsthor's Bane
74. Gryphon in Glory
75. Horn Crown
76. Gryphone's Eyrie
77. Were-Wrath
78. Songsmith
79. Lore of the Witch
80. Port of Dead Ships
81. Seakeep
82. Storms of Victory
83. Exile
84. Falcon Hope
85. Flight of Vengeance
86. On Wings of Magic
87. Falcon Magic
88. We, the Women
89. The Key of the Keplian
90. The Magestone
91. The Warding of Witch World*
92. Silver May Tarnish
Katherine Kurtz
93. Deryni Rising *
94. Deryni Checkmate
95. High Deryni
96. Camber of Culdi
97. Saint Camber
98. Camber the Heretic*
99. The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison*
100. Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees*
101. Little, Big by John Crowley*
J.R.R. Tolkien:
1. Farmer Giles of Ham*
2. The Hobbit*
3. The Fellowship of the Ring*
4. Two Towers*
5. The Return of the King*
Mervyn Peake:
6. Titus Groan*
7. Gormenghast*
8. Titus Alone*
Guy Gavriel Kay:
9. The Summer Tree*
10. The Wandering Fire*
11. The Darkest Road*
Robert Jordan:
12. They Eye of the World*
13. The Great Hunt*
14. The Dragon Reborn*
15. The Shadow Rising*
16. The Fires of Heaven*
17. Lord of Chaos*
18. A Crown of Swords*
19. The Path of Daggers*
20. Winter's Heart*
21. Crossroads of Twilight*
22. Knife of Dreams
Piers Anthony:
23. A Spell for Chameleon*
24. The Source of Magic
25. Castle Roogna
26. Centaur Isle
27. Ogre, Ogre
28. Night Mare
29. Dragon on a Pedestal
30. Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn*
31. Golem in the Gears
32. Vale of the Vole
33. Heaven Cent
34. Man From Mundania
35. Isle of View
36. Question Quest
37. The Color of Her Panties
38. Demons Don't Dream
39. Harpy Thyme
40. Geis of the Gargoyle
41. Roc and a Hard Place
42. Yon Ill Wind
43. Faun and Games
44. Zombie Lover
45. Xone of Contention
46. The Dastard
47. Swell Foop
48. Up in a Heavel*
49. Cube Route
50. Currant Events
51. Pet Peeve
Alan Dean Foster:
52. Spellsinger *
53. The Hour of the Gate
54. The Day of the Dissonance*
55. Moment of the Magician
56. The Path of the Peramublator
57. The Time of the Transference
58. Son of Spellsinger
59. Chorus Skating
Andre Norton
60. Witch World*
61. Web of the Witch World
62. Three Against the Witch World
63. Warlock of the Witch World
64. Sorceress of the Witch World
65. Trey of Swords
66. Ware Hawk
67. The Gate of the Cat
68. Ciara's Song
69. Year of the Unicorn
70. The Crystal Gryphon
71. Spell of the Witch World
72. The Jargoon Pard*
73. Zarsthor's Bane
74. Gryphon in Glory
75. Horn Crown
76. Gryphone's Eyrie
77. Were-Wrath
78. Songsmith
79. Lore of the Witch
80. Port of Dead Ships
81. Seakeep
82. Storms of Victory
83. Exile
84. Falcon Hope
85. Flight of Vengeance
86. On Wings of Magic
87. Falcon Magic
88. We, the Women
89. The Key of the Keplian
90. The Magestone
91. The Warding of Witch World*
92. Silver May Tarnish
Katherine Kurtz
93. Deryni Rising *
94. Deryni Checkmate
95. High Deryni
96. Camber of Culdi
97. Saint Camber
98. Camber the Heretic*
99. The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison*
100. Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees*
101. Little, Big by John Crowley*
List 2c: Horror
Book Lust pg 216
While not nearly so prone to serialization (Anne Rice being the most notable exception on this list), Pearl's Horror list is rather vague. She admits freely that she doesn't much like Horror and I imagine that it's a function of that hesitance to read the genre that creates this problem. What she's done is to sort of implicate everything Crichton, Rice, and King have ever written as being worthy of reading which I doubt was the intention. The completest in me is tempted to list everything but say that I'm only committing to the one's she specifically mentions but even so one must limit or this list will be even longer than fantasy. So for Rice - only the vampire chronicles and for King and Crichton only the novels - otherwise I'll never get out of horror. Look for the * after the ones she specifically mentions.
Michael Crichton:
1. Drug of Choice
2. A Case of Need
3. Binary
4. Zero Cool
5. The Androeda Strain
6. The Terminal Man
7. Eaters of the Dead
8. Congo
9. Sphere
10. Jurassic Park*
11. Westworld
12. Rising Sun
13. Disclosure
14. Twister
15. Airframe
16. Timeline
17. Prey
18. State of Fear
Anne Rice:
19. Interview with the Vampire*
20. The Vampire Lestat*
21. The Queen of the Damned
22. The Tale of the Body Thief
23. Memnoch the Devil
24. The Vampire Armand
25. Merrick
26. Blood and Gold
27. Blackwood Farm
28. Blood Canticle
Stephen King:
29. Carrie*
30. Salem's Lot
31. The Shining
32. The Stand*
33. The Dead Zone
34. Firestarter
35. Cujo
36. The Mist
37. Pet Cemetary
38. Christine
39. Cycle of the Werewolves
40. It
41. The Eyes of the Dragon
42. Misery
43. Tommyknockers
44. The Dark Half
45. Needful Things
46. Gerald's Game
47. Dolores Claiborne
48. Insomnia
49. Rose Madder
50. Desperation
51. The Green Mile
52. Bag of Bones
53. Storm of the Century
54. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
55. Dreamcatcher
56. From a Buick 8
57. The Colorado Kid
58. Cell
59. Lisey's Story
60. The Gunslinger
61. The Drawing of the Three
62. The Waste Lands
63. Wizard and Glass
64. Wolves of the Calla
65. Song of Susannah
66. The Dark Tower
Shirley Jackson:
67. We Have Always Lived in the Castle
68. The Haunting of Hill House
69. Turn of the Screw by Henry James*
70. In a Glass Darkly by Sheridan LeFanu*
71. The White Devil by John Webster*
72. Falling Angel by William Hjortsbergs*
73. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly*
74. I am Legend by Richard Matheson*
75. Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo*
While not nearly so prone to serialization (Anne Rice being the most notable exception on this list), Pearl's Horror list is rather vague. She admits freely that she doesn't much like Horror and I imagine that it's a function of that hesitance to read the genre that creates this problem. What she's done is to sort of implicate everything Crichton, Rice, and King have ever written as being worthy of reading which I doubt was the intention. The completest in me is tempted to list everything but say that I'm only committing to the one's she specifically mentions but even so one must limit or this list will be even longer than fantasy. So for Rice - only the vampire chronicles and for King and Crichton only the novels - otherwise I'll never get out of horror. Look for the * after the ones she specifically mentions.
Michael Crichton:
1. Drug of Choice
2. A Case of Need
3. Binary
4. Zero Cool
5. The Androeda Strain
6. The Terminal Man
7. Eaters of the Dead
8. Congo
9. Sphere
10. Jurassic Park*
11. Westworld
12. Rising Sun
13. Disclosure
14. Twister
15. Airframe
16. Timeline
17. Prey
18. State of Fear
Anne Rice:
19. Interview with the Vampire*
20. The Vampire Lestat*
21. The Queen of the Damned
22. The Tale of the Body Thief
23. Memnoch the Devil
24. The Vampire Armand
25. Merrick
26. Blood and Gold
27. Blackwood Farm
28. Blood Canticle
Stephen King:
29. Carrie*
30. Salem's Lot
31. The Shining
32. The Stand*
33. The Dead Zone
34. Firestarter
35. Cujo
36. The Mist
37. Pet Cemetary
38. Christine
39. Cycle of the Werewolves
40. It
41. The Eyes of the Dragon
42. Misery
43. Tommyknockers
44. The Dark Half
45. Needful Things
46. Gerald's Game
47. Dolores Claiborne
48. Insomnia
49. Rose Madder
50. Desperation
51. The Green Mile
52. Bag of Bones
53. Storm of the Century
54. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
55. Dreamcatcher
56. From a Buick 8
57. The Colorado Kid
58. Cell
59. Lisey's Story
60. The Gunslinger
61. The Drawing of the Three
62. The Waste Lands
63. Wizard and Glass
64. Wolves of the Calla
65. Song of Susannah
66. The Dark Tower
Shirley Jackson:
67. We Have Always Lived in the Castle
68. The Haunting of Hill House
69. Turn of the Screw by Henry James*
70. In a Glass Darkly by Sheridan LeFanu*
71. The White Devil by John Webster*
72. Falling Angel by William Hjortsbergs*
73. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly*
74. I am Legend by Richard Matheson*
75. Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo*
Saturday, February 11, 2006
10. Impossible Things
by Connie Willis (461 pgs)
Rating: 4
For some reason it took me an excessive amount of time to get through Impossible Things. Most of the stories were highly entertaining, some of them were a little long, and all of them required thoughtful reading. I think perhaps my problem is that I've read a lot of Connie Willis books over a relatively short span of time.
"The Last of the Winnebagos"
Driving has become even more hazardous to one's health and PETA has finally won the war on sanity.
"Even the Queen"
I think this might be my favorite. Feminism gone terribly wrong and tricky issues with the monthly visitor.
"Schwarzschild Radius"
WWII and the Russian front. A doomed soldier corresponds with Einstein and a radioman gets lost in his memories.
"Ado"
blatant attack on PC and groups who insist on Political Correctness and about damn time too.
"Spice Pogrom"
One of the longer stories about interspecies communication. How does an alien think, really, and will we be able to understand them even if they can learn English? And somehow a love story.
"Winter's Tale"
Also very good. It's about the theory that Shakespeare didn't actually write his plays. This is a story that posits one way, if it were true, that it could have come about.
"Chance"
A bittersweet story about second chances. If we could go back and change one thing in our lives would we do it knowing that who we are now would cease to be?
"In the Late Cretaceous"
Kind of an amusing comment on academia. What happens when the worst of the business world, academic worlds, and teaching come together.
"Time Out"
Rather sweet, really weird. It's about time travel. Anything more would give something away.
"Jack"
WWII again. Britain this time. Apparently the brits had wardens that were semi-volunteer citizens who put out fires and searched for bodies in London after bombs were dropped. Some people were particularly good at finding bodies in the rubble. This gives it all a sinister twist.
"At the Rialto"
Something about quantum physics. yeeeeeeeeah...I didn't get it. Or I kinda did but I feel like I missed the punch-line.
Rating: 4
For some reason it took me an excessive amount of time to get through Impossible Things. Most of the stories were highly entertaining, some of them were a little long, and all of them required thoughtful reading. I think perhaps my problem is that I've read a lot of Connie Willis books over a relatively short span of time.
"The Last of the Winnebagos"
Driving has become even more hazardous to one's health and PETA has finally won the war on sanity.
"Even the Queen"
I think this might be my favorite. Feminism gone terribly wrong and tricky issues with the monthly visitor.
"Schwarzschild Radius"
WWII and the Russian front. A doomed soldier corresponds with Einstein and a radioman gets lost in his memories.
"Ado"
blatant attack on PC and groups who insist on Political Correctness and about damn time too.
"Spice Pogrom"
One of the longer stories about interspecies communication. How does an alien think, really, and will we be able to understand them even if they can learn English? And somehow a love story.
"Winter's Tale"
Also very good. It's about the theory that Shakespeare didn't actually write his plays. This is a story that posits one way, if it were true, that it could have come about.
"Chance"
A bittersweet story about second chances. If we could go back and change one thing in our lives would we do it knowing that who we are now would cease to be?
"In the Late Cretaceous"
Kind of an amusing comment on academia. What happens when the worst of the business world, academic worlds, and teaching come together.
"Time Out"
Rather sweet, really weird. It's about time travel. Anything more would give something away.
"Jack"
WWII again. Britain this time. Apparently the brits had wardens that were semi-volunteer citizens who put out fires and searched for bodies in London after bombs were dropped. Some people were particularly good at finding bodies in the rubble. This gives it all a sinister twist.
"At the Rialto"
Something about quantum physics. yeeeeeeeeah...I didn't get it. Or I kinda did but I feel like I missed the punch-line.
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